Her best friend, Melissa, who has joined her from Barbados for this London trip, is flaked out on a sofa, while Rihanna? ? !” s assistant can? ? !” t stifle a succession of yawns.
But Rihanna, ever the professional, looks groomed and ready for another full day of work.
But then this is the girl who is used to working at a breakneck pace.
She? ? !” s made three albums in the past two years and is never in one place for more than a few days.
But Rihanna admits her non-stop life is normal to her.
She says: ? ? S It was always this way from the beginning. I was thrown in at this pace and I never stopped.
Crazy
? ? S Sometimes I talk to other artists who tell me they are off home for a week, and I say, ? ? ? That? ? !” s crazy. Staying home for a week is just a dream for me at the moment.? ? !”
? ? S The last time I was home, in LA, it was just for 12 hours and, as for Barbados, I won? ? !” t get back there until Christmas.
? ? S But I? ? !” m not complaining. Everything that has happened is just amazing.
? ? S You hope for the best ? ? but when it happens to this extent, it? ? !” s just unbelievable.? ? ?
Earlier this year, the 19-year-old singer secured herself a place in the record books when her single Umbrella spent ten weeks at the UK No1 spot, the longest so far this millennium.
She says: ? ? S It? ? !” s hard to take in how much success I have had this year ? ? especially with Umbrella ? ? as I? ? !” m travelling so much and am away from the reality of it all.
? ? S But I? ? !” m not satisfied and there is no comfort in the success I? ? !” ve achieved. I? ? !” m always on to the next thing.? ? ?
And the next thing for Rihanna is her forthcoming tour and her new single Hate That I Love You ? ? a duet with hip-hop star Ne-Yo taken from her third album Good Girl Gone Bad.
? ? S It? ? !” s my favourite track off my album which I love to perform live and I just can? ? !” t wait to play it here in December,? ? ? she says.
? ? S These shows will be my biggest yet. I? ? !” m working with choreographer Tina Landon, who did the Umbrella video and Janet Jackson? ? !” s tours and has worked with Britney, J-Lo, Christina Aguilera and Prince. I want my shows to be like the ones Linkin Park do ? ? they are so amazing. But the best tour I have ever seen is Justin Timberlake? ? !” s. No other artist is doing what he is doing right now.? ? ?
Ready for show … Rihanna
Ready for show … Rihanna
It was working with Justin and Timbaland on Good Girl Gone Bad that marked Rihanna? ? !” s change in direction and promotion to the Premiership of pop R&B singers.
She reveals: ? ? S I prefer this edgy new sound. It? ? !” s more unique-sounding but not so far left that people can? ? !” t get it.
? ? S Working with Timbaland and Justin was wonderful. With Justin, I was so nervous. For him to come into the studio and write a record for me ? ? that was such a big deal.
? ? S I was so excited as I am a huge fan of his. But he just came in and started writing and it came together very quickly.
? ? S I really hope we can work together again soon as I love Rehab, a song he wrote for me.? ? ? Rehab, however, is one place Rihanna insists she will never visit, unlike her idol Whitney Houston and contemporaries including Britney Spears.
Rihanna says: ? ? S I refuse to crack under pressure ? ? in fact I thrive on it. So when I read about Britney and Amy Winehouse who have suffered under it, it? ? !” s sad.
? ? S It is easy to criticise them but it happens. You just have to stay focused and keep your feet on the ground.? ? ? Rihanna? ? !” s reveals her future ambitions include more music and getting into acting. She says: ? ? S Acting is something I? ? !” ve always been interested in and, living in LA, I meet lots of people involved in that world.
? ? S But I also want to get into the fashion industry, start some clothes lines and use my entrepreneurial skills.? ? ?
Hit album … Good Girl Gone Bad
Hit album … Good Girl Gone Bad
Rihanna received her big break at just 15 when she was spotted by producer Evan Rogers while he was on holiday in Barbados. After that she was signed by Jay-Z to his Def Jam label. Things have certainly moved fast for her, but Rihanna is adamant she hasn? ? !” t missed out on her teen years.
? ? S This career is what I have dreamed of my entire life,? ? ? she insists. ? ? S I am enjoying experiences of a lifetime.
? ? S I am travelling to places like Japan and Africa which I would never have done if this all hadn? ? !” t happened.
? ? S I am performing and making music that reaches people all over the world and, most importantly, doing what I love.
? ? S I have my best friend, Melissa from home here with me right now. It? ? !” s great I can fly them over and spoil them.? ? ?
Rihanna says the only downside of all this fame and hard work is that she finds it difficult to meet boyfriends.
And despite it being early days for her romance with Pearl Harbor actor Josh Hartnett, which she remains tight-lipped about, she says meeting men in this business is tricky.
? ? S I always have my guard up with men no matter who they are,? ? ? she explains. ? ? S There are people who love you simply because you are famous and very attractive.
? ? S But I am very good at reading people and I? ? !” m not naive.
? ? S The longer I am in this business, the more judgmental I am of the people.
? ? S I cannot deal with dishonesty and people try to be your friend. Then when you are between albums or not in the spotlight any more, no one wants to know you.
? ? S Staying down to earth in this industry in general is not easy, but I am strong and when I feel lost or depressed on the road, I just call Melissa. When I see people turning to drugs and alcohol, then that? ? !” s when I call Melissa. She helps me.
? ? S I may have had success and fame early but it doesn? ? !” t mean I can? ? !” t handle it. Just watch ? ? in years to come I will still be here and in a good place whether I? ? !” m singing or acting.? ? ?
Rihanna? ? !” s tour begins December 3 at Belfast Odyssey Arena, then Manchester MEN (6); Sheffield Arena (7); Nottingham Arena (8); Birmingham NEC (10); Bournemouth International Centre (11); Newcastle Metro Radio Arena (13); Glasgow SECC (14); Wembley Arena (16); The Brighton Centre (17) and Cardiff International Arena (19).
Source: The Sun
2 Comments on “Rihanna: I can handle pressure”
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i just wanted to say that I love RIHANNA, and this site. its amazing. thank you :)
good interview … she seems like such a cool person.
does anyone know if she will tour the states ? NYC Madison Square Garden ? i hope so !