In House With SWV: Singers Talk 'I Missed Us' Album, 'Figuring Out' Nicki Minaj & Story Behind Coko's Nails
worked hard for a long time. We lived in the 'hood, so we had to move.
Taj: I was slow, I didn't move until we were almost double platinum. After I was down to like one pair of underwear [since the rest were stolen] I had to move [laughs]. I was in Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy. I loved laundromats, I had this obsession with the smell of dryers. I love going to the laundromat. I would go and wash my clothes, read a book, go to the bathroom, and my stuff would be gone. After four pairs of underwear, [I was like], "Maybe it's time." Couldn't fight it anymore.
When you were recording the album, I Missed Us, is there one song that you had a hard time recording because it brought back a specific memory or emotion as you were performing your vocals?
Lelee: "The Best Years." I was thinking about every guy that I dated that I put so much time into the relationship and it just did not work. For whatever reason, you replay all of those moments in your head, at the same time in the booth trying to record it, sing it. That was hard for me.
These days, much of R&B has an electronic, dance feel. What are your thoughts on this shift in the music that you made a career of performing?
L: We're going to show you what real R&B is, because it isn't that.
T: It's a sad day in music. It really is. If I could be 100 percent honest; some of the artists I enjoy for entertainment purposes, but it takes me absolutely nowhere. I can't go to those when I'm feeling sad, when somebody leaves me. I can't relate to those songs, they're for the moment. By the way, if people enjoy those for-the-moment songs, it's whatever you like.
One of you said you're not trying to be 19.
L:
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