Fantasia Q&A: 'Still Full of Joy' Ten Years In, Talks Fifth Album & 'After Midnight' — billboard.com

It's been a busy seven months for Fantasia. The singer/songwriter began starring in the Tony-nominated Broadway musical "After Midnight," which bowed last November. Then she and the cast — with Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle — opened the Tony Awards. "I was so happy to be onstage with Gladys and Patti. I had a smile from ear to ear," says Fantasia. A week later, 2004's "American Idol" champ found herself onstage at the Hollywood Bowl, performing for the first time at the Playboy Jazz Festival (June 15). By then she'd learned that "After Midnight"—nominated for seven Tonys and a winner for choreography—was closing owing to modest sales. But that hasn't dampened Fantasia's keep-on-pushing spirit. Her last album, 2013's "Side Effects of You," bowed at No. 1 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Now prepping for her fifth album, the personable singer talks about her "rock soul" movement, working with Harmony Samuels ("my Quincy Jones") and marking 10 years in the game. 

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