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Kelly Rowland - Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland, newly signed Universal Motown, is bringing a revamped and grandiose sound for her self-titled album, Kelly Rowland.

Being her third studio album as a solo artist, Kelly Rowland exhibits Rowland’s maturation with emotionally charged lyrics and a range of musical elements from techy dance tracks to slow ballads. Ms. Rowland’s listening party at Hudson Hall in New York City’s Upper West Side, yesterday, was an intimate celebration of the new direction that Rowland is taking with her art and career.

While perched elegantly atop the mahogany finished bar table, Kelly Rowland, looking stunning in a flowing tan mini dress and chunky taupe suede heels, was interviewed by the equally fabulous Gayle King. King questioned the artist about her initial fear of failure after leaving the musical powerhouse that is Destiny’s Child, personal development as an artist and how real life serves as a constant inspiration for music.

The first song played from Kelly Rowland was “Rose Colored Glasses,” a Dr. Luke produced track that speaks to the issues that arise when one plays the fool in a relationship. After the audience’s appetite was wet, the fun up-tempo song written by Ne-Yo, “Shake The Haters Off” came through the speakers while Rowland screamed “Blast that!”

“Its like a job I that I never get a break from/because haters never take a vacation,” cranked thorough the room enveloping the listeners and compelling everyone to bob their heads. “Grown Ass Woman,” also written by Ne-yo, had her digging through old pictures from the Destiny’s Child days reflecting on how far she has come yet how “Grown and silly” she still is.

The ante was upped with “Forever and A Day” where Rowland displays her vocal skill by wailing on the track with long-winded riffs and hitting sky-high notes. The listening section ended with “Heaven and Earth,” a beautiful sonic portrait, painted with flecks of sentiment; a picture of what the singer believes is what “we deserve as a people.”

Kelly Rowland is a testament to the new heights to which Ms. Rowland will soar. With a new lease of life, she is rooted in her strengths as an individual. It is a celebration of her career as a refined and developed singular artist, a proud declaration that she is simply Kelly Rowland.