I always wanted to sing. The transition came about when my producer friend asked me, “What producer do you think would get you as an artist?” I said, “Timbaland, hands down.” Little did I know, he knew Timbaland, and Timbaland had said that he was looking for an R&B solo female!

Around Christmas 2007, I was at a mall with my brother and sister and heard “Ooh Baby,” the Ciara song that I wrote, playing in Macy’s. My brother went into another store and heard “The Way I Are.” A few minutes later, he was like, “Wow! They’re playing your song again.” I was like, “What do you mean, again?” because I thought he was talking about Ciara. And he was like, “No, they’re playing you and Timbaland’s song in the shoe store.” That was the best feeling.

Most of the time I do. Other times I write it with someone else in mind and then I love it so much I’m like, “You’re never going to hear this one! I’m keeping it.” I love it when that happens.