An Interview With Rising Star, ANTONIQUE SMITH on Her Current Hit, “Hold Up Wait A Minute”, Her Experience Playing Faith Evans and Much More!

All of us at All Access Music group urge you to get to know the fabulous Antonique Smith! Her powerful voice and confident attitude are a winning combination and definitely equal star power! Her current single, “Hold Up Wait A Minute (Woo Woo) is sure to be a fast hit!

She performed at our Worldwide Radio Summit a few weeks ago LA’s Roosevelt Hotel!

Learn more about Antonique Smith in the following interview:

Can you remember the moment that you wanted to be a performer? 

I started saying I wanted to be a “star” when I grew up when I was three years old. But it was when I heard Whitney Houston’s voice and I became obsessed with wanting to sound like her that I knew I wanted to be a singer. Music was my first love.

How do you think your experience on Broadway in Rent and acting in films has prepared you for this solo record? 

I’d say being in RENT actually prepared me for both film and being a solo artist. On Broadway, there’s 8 shows a week and you have to recreate the same show, songs and moments 8 times a week and still make it seem new and spontaneous every time. That prepared me for film where you shoot a scene multiple times and singing 8 shows a week strengthened my voice and got me way more at home on stage.

What was it like playing Faith Evans in Notorious? Did you get to spend time with Faith Evans at all to prepare for the role? 

It was incredible!! I’m forever a part of her and Biggie’s legacy. We shot in NYC and she was in Los Angeles so we didn’t get much face time but we talked on the phone a lot and she answered all my questions and gave me the memoirs to her book before it came out. It was most important to her that everyone knew how much her and Big really loved each other and the director George Tillman added a couple of scenes to make sure that was clear.

Let’s talk about your hit single, “Hold Up Wait A Minute (Woo Woo)”. Where did the inspiration for it come from? All of us in the office are big fans of the video too. How involved were you in the making of it? 

Aww! Thank u!! It’s an aggressive song about putting your foot down and taking your power back from whatever injustices you’re facing in life. It could be anything that isn’t right!! From a man cheating, to a boss disrespecting you, all the way to things that the masses are facing like Mike Brown and Eric Garner, racism, abuse, bullying! I could go on all day! Big and small, whatever your moment is, Hold Up Wait A Minute!!! The song came about when my genius manager Darryl Farmer heard the music in his head. Then he made the track and played it for me! I thought it was amazing and he started asking me about my hold up wait a minute moments and we wrote the lyrics from there. I’m so excited about how the video came out! I asked my bro Larenz Tate to direct it and he did an amazing job. I’m so grateful that him, King Bach and Lance Gross were all a part of it.

Congrats on being nominated for a Grammy for that song! What does that feel like? 

Thank you so much!!! It’s completely unbelievable! I’m still pinching myself. I’ve been feeling like I’m in a Disney movie!

When can fans expect you to release your full length album? 

We’re still working on it. It’s been so busy promoting “Hold Up Wait A Minute” and doing shows that we haven’t had much time to get in the studio. But, it’s called Love Is Everything and will be out later in the year. My second single “Higher” will be out soon though.

What artists have consistently inspired you? Who are some of your all-time favorite musicians? 

My original inspiration is Whitney Houston and I’ve also been inspired by Aretha Franklin and Celine Dion. They shaped my voice! Some of my faves of all time is Mary J Blige, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Michael Jackson and the Beatles.

Living or dead, who would you love to sing a duet with and why that artist in particular? 

It would have to be Whitney Houston! She was the best. That voice?!??

What are some of your favorite songs to perform?

I actually enjoy performing my song “Higher” that will be out soon and I love singing “Let It Be” by the Beatles, “I Believe In You And Me” by Whitney Houston, “All By Myself” by Celine Dion and “Stay With Me”. Now, if we’re at karaoke, it’s gonna be “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”.

Thus far, what’s a favorite memory or something quirky that’s taken place with you (in-studio, onstage, or elsewhere)? 

My favorite memory was last year when Stevie Wonder heard me singing “I Believe In You And Me”, came onstage and made me sing it again while he held the mic for me and then brought me over to the piano and as he played and we sang “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” together. He was giving me the words in my ear. It was unreal! Like, I couldn’t believe it was happening as it was happening. He’s amazing.

Is there anything in particular that you’d like people to take away from listening to your music? 

I really want to help people. I hope they listen to the messages and think about their situation and make different choices. I hope they’re inspired and moved. And I hope they feel like they’ve found some new favorite songs.