Grammy-nominated R&B singer and songwriter Syleena Johnson is a mother of two to Kiwane Garris Jr,1, and Kai,7,(pictured above). The working mom,who is married for the second time to Italian league basketball player Kiwane Garris, has a new album set for release on September 2nd. In a recent interview with SingersRoom,Syleena talks about her new album,her new label,and juggling her career with motherhood:
On what she has been up to lately:
Well, basically I’ve been on the road, and focusing on family. I got married, had a baby, bought a new house; just stuff like that. I’m still staying current with my recording while making my family my first priority.
On how she is adjusting to being a new mom and handling her career at the same time:
We just started with the new label; even though it’s been extremely difficult, it hasn’t been that bad. I know that in the future when I start touring, that’s when the real test is going to come. It has been challenging but rewarding at the same time. Having a baby is definitely an adjustment for someone like me. Being a recording artist you’re used to living a very selfish life where everything is about you, and what’s happening with you; it’s just you, you, you. But, when you have a husband and a baby all of that tends to change and it’s not about you anymore.
On why she chose to name new CD, ‘Chapter 4: Labor Pains:
Well it’s titled labor pains, obviously because I just had a baby, and the labor pains that I experienced was some of the worst pains that I’ve ever felt in my life. It was forty hours worth of them, but it was the most beautiful reward because look what came of it, my son is like everything to me. When we work, we just think about ourselves in this world, you know, work pains, labor pains, all of the stuff that we go through to try and get where we’re trying to go. Whatever you’re trying to do to reach your goal, it’s a lot of pain involved in that, a lot of work, and that’s basically where I’m at in my life. With Chapter 4, we’re praying that just like with my son, this will be one of the most beautiful albums that I’ve ever done.
Kiwane Garris Jr,1, is the first child for Syleena and her husband Kiwane Garris;Kai is Syleena’s son from her first marriage.
