If there are any Destiny’s Child fans hoping for a reunion album, Kelly Rowland says don’t expect one anytime soon.
These days, Rowland is focused on a solo career and filming a documentary series called Chasing Destiny, which will debut on American network BET in April.
For the show, she completed a three-city tour of New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles with veteran choreographer Frank Gatson – Beyoncé and Rowland’s creative director – to audition talent to find the next superstar girl group.
“I don’t care where they are, where they live, where they’re from, their background – I just want to make sure that I have girls in the group who are not afraid to work, who are excited about a great opportunity, who have goals, and think, breathe and sleep music,” says Rowland.
The Grammy winner says she wants to create a girl group for the new generation of music fans. The pop charts have featured Fifth Harmony, who had a big hit this year with Worth It, and British group Little Mix, who won The X Factor in 2011 and released their third album last month.
But Rowland believes there’s room for more.
“When Destiny’s Child was around, I remember there was Xscape, there was SWV, there was En Vogue, there was The Cheetah Girls,” she said.
“There were all these different types of groups, and these different types of girls groups, and there’s just one [now] – you’re kidding me? Like, get out of here. It should definitely be more.”
Rowland says she and Gatson have yet to decide how many girls will be selected. Gatson said he has held two secret audition sessions in New Orleans and New York without Rowland, in the hope of finding more candidates.
More than 70 hopefuls auditioned in each city.
“We have to search under every rock,” said Gatson, who groomed Destiny’s Child and also choreographed routines for Michael Jackson and Jennifer Lopez.
“There has to be another Michael Jackson out there. There has to be another Supremes.”
Until they find their group, Rowland says she is enjoying the process as she reminisces about her time with Destiny’s Child.
The group was one of the best-selling female groups of all-time, releasing platinum-plus albums and multiple hits, from Say My Name to Bootylicious to Survivor.
Rowland says her “heart beats so fast” thinking about those times with Beyoncé and Michelle Williams.
“It takes me back to those days when we were grinding and being moulded,” says Rowland, who will release a solo album next year.
“I think these are the most beautiful moments. The fun part is getting to know these girls [and] being able to share my stories.”
* Associated Press
