Photo by Dusan Rejlin

LeToya is one of the original members of Destiny's Child and has co-wrote several hit songs such as "Bills Bills Bills" and "Say My Name." LeToya has been out of the spotlight for a couple of years, but she's back with her self-titled CD "LeToya." Her current single "Torn" is riding up the charts.

Here's an exclusive interview with LeToya as she prepared for the release of her new CD.

Shelia Goss: What have you been doing since leaving Destiny’s Child?
LeToya: Busy. I opened a ladies boutique in Houston. I’m happy to say we are going into our third year. I was also recording my album and I also had a record on the Coach Carter soundtrack.

Shelia: How did the experience of being in the group prepare you for your solo career?
LeToya: Thank God for that experience. It taught me so much and how to stay strong in this industry.

Shelia: What was the motivation for this album?
LeToya: At first I had NO plans on being a solo artist, but once I got in the studio and started writing I decided this was what I wanted to do. So I decided to make a record that reflected on the last five years of my life.

Shelia: Did you draw on personal experience when writing the lyrics for some of the songs?
LeToya: Yes indeed! I’ve grown so much in these last couple of years and gone through. so many things that dealt with love, life, and relationships. That’s all I knew to write about and I must say I have a lot of women’s anthems on this record.

Shelia: Who all did you collaborate with on this album?
LeToya: My Houston Hard Hitters, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Slim Thug & Bun B. Great producers like J.D., Scott Storch, Jazzy Pha, Teddy Bishop and B. Cox.

Shelia: Which song on the album is reflective of the chopped and screwed that Houston is known for?
LeToya: Gangsta Grillz because of the screwed and chopped hook.

Shelia: What do you want the listener to walk away with after listening to your album?
LeToya: I want them to feel like, “Hey, I feel like I know her”, and that they can relate to me. Also that I’ve grown vocally.

Shelia: What advice would you give other young ladies who want to follow in your path?
LeToya: Continue to fulfill your dreams and keep those haters out of your ear. Perform as much as possible and I mean ANYWHERE there’s a microphone. I remember performing in front of grocery stores and planes.

Interview by Shelia M. Goss, entertainment writer and the national bestselling author of My Invisible Husband and Roses are thorns, Violets are True. Her website is www.sheliagoss.com. For more entertainment news, go to www.e-spire.blogspot.com.