It's always hard to begin again especially when your far from it. Alison Hinds, Caribbean's dubbed Soca Queen, was apart of the band Square One, her first real exposure to the music world. Now she is out there on her own and has taken control of her career. Alison was great in opening up about her music and all that comes with it. A real eye opener; Alison talks about running her business, developing her fantastic vocals and hard work.

You’ve had a successful 11 album run w/the band Square One. When you look at that type of success what thoughts ponder your mind when you consider walking away to venture your own solo career?

Alison Hinds: I was very happy that I got to be with the bad and to develop as an artist. When we got together we were all young and inexperienced in music and music business. The years… I worked hard and I was able to take time and develop my art. It was a good job but it was time for me to become a solo artist.

What’s the difference in the decision making when you’re on your own as oppose to in a group?

Alison Hinds: More control now. It’s my career as opposed to being in a group. I have a band and dancers and so on but essentially it’s my career I’m looking at. I collaborate with my manager on a regular basis even if he’s not traveling with me. He’s been on the road with me for the past month of so. I have a road manager that travels with me. It’s a lot more hands on which I like, which means that I’m involved with every part… good bad different, the challenges. It’s good for me as an artist… In a group we owned the band as a group, it was a group effort all the way through. We would have big meetings and hash it out. We'd sit down and discuss and talk. Now it's just the two of us, we execute and continue. I’m a lot more involved.

How does it work with your road manager and then your general manager?

Alison Hinds: He is representative of my manager on the road with me. He would deal with the business side and stay in contact with my general manager. He would tell him in terms of finances and that kind of thing. He would let me know what time sound check is etc. my general manager deals with all the other stuff that deals with the business (Dexter Thomas manager)… Van (general) has so many things to do that its extra to be on the road.

Wow Alison. You were dubbed Soca Queen. I'm sure your excited about that?

Alison Hinds: You’re the first person that has interviewed me that knows that and said that.

What's the vibe of the album in terms of creating it?

Alison Hinds: It was good. Its always good. I enjoy being in the studio the people I got to work with are very talented and their vibe is really good. Its almost like its not work which is good. Its almost better results. Working with Remi… he was just so easy going. He listens to you as a person and as an artist and gets the best out of you.  Chris Alman… great producer. Another person who encourages you to be you. Go with what you feel… he would give you pointers… I enjoyed that. And Shell Shock… Roll It Gal… Myspace. Caution… when I go into the studio its fun, we work… but in the booth its work. Everything goes well and goes smoothly. Nicolas Branker… I’ve been working with him for a long time… free flowing easy going type of vibe. That is when I thrived…

Speaking of being in the booth, I interviewed a 7 year old rap artist from Houston, TX who talked bout the importance of being comfortable in the booth. She said if your not comfortable and you don't know how to work a song your in trouble.

Alison Hinds: She understood it. She nailed it. she was absolutely correct. You have to make the booth your friend…your buddy. Your stuff is not going to come out right. The regular person listening to music hearing different emotions in music doesn't think about being in a box literally with no audience in front  of you… and you have to put a vocal there. You now have to create within your mind and within yourself the emotions you want to put into this song. There is nothing to stimulate… you can't have any other noise .. you do have to get comfortable… when you go into the studio for the first time its weird… I’ve seen people do it… I’m scared. I’m nervous… that is what it is… when the music starts, you have to start to create that mood. You are the person that is responsible for creating that atmosphere. For some people it comes easy and for others it takes a long time. I’ve been recording since roughly a teenager. The first few times I went in the studio it was a challenge… sometimes people need different things. Sometimes you dim the lights… sometimes your not able to do that but people do different things to get in the mood for the song. She got it. Its not glamorous. And she understands what it takes to be in the studio. Its’ listening to a song over and over again. You do a take and listen to it and say I can do it better. That is how I am a lot of the time. I used to do a lot of takes. Now I’m ready. I may do two tracks and that’s it. If you do a bad track… it will haunt you for the rest of your life. Every time you hear the song it’s like oh god. It takes a lot of focus. Don’t take your friends in the studio… it doesn’t help. They are going to get bored. They are hearing the same thing over and over again… don’t take your friends. Take your creative people with you. Tell your friends to stay home and you call when done (lol).

What is your favorite track on this album?

Alison Hinds: I don’t have one favorite… Blazing,  (my daughters favorite… 3 years old),  she called it Oh Oh Oh Oh… mommy play.. Ladies rule… it’s actually a rework with one of my past hits with Square One that the musicians did for me. I love the way it came out. Roll it Gal is her first. Thunder, is another single on the album. From the very beginning… when it was just music… and when the song was written for it I was like definitely… I performed it on my set. These couple are my favorite.