How hard was it working on your new single ‘Commander’?
It was very easy to record. Rico Love, who I had the opportunity to work with, he wrote half the record. He and I had the best chemistry in the studio. I was so happy that there’s been such good feedback on it.

This is from your third studio album?
Yes it is. The whole body of work will be out in September. I am so psyched and it’s so great. I’m so happy with the outcome and I hope everybody loves it just as much as I do.

Does ‘Commander’ reflect the style of the new album?
You know what? It’s a piece of the record. There’re dance elements and urban elements to it. I can’t forget about my urban roots. I remember some fans were asking me, ‘I know you love dance, but please don’t forget about r ‘n’ b. We love your r ‘n’ b records,” and I was like, ‘I cannot forget about r ‘n’ b’.

You’ve dabbled in movies before. Do you fancy working on another film?

As of right now, music is my main priority. If the right script were to come along though I must tell you I would totally do it.

Who’s been the biggest influence in your career?
Janet Jackson. She works extremely hard. Between her and Gladys Knight. With her voice – and Patti LaBelle. My list will go on and on. 

What have you got planned for the rest of the year?
The record. The whole album. I want everyone to definitely dance to ‘Commander’ all summer long – have memories to it, make memories to it.

“There’re dance elements and urban elements to it. I can’t forget about my urban roots. I remember some fans were asking me, ‘I know you love dance, but please don’t forget about r ‘n’ b. We love your r ‘n’ b records’.”

Tell us about The Fashion Show, which can be seen on Really on 3 August.
It starts with 15 designers who want to win the competition to be the next big thing and, of course, an opportunity for big money.

How does this series differ from the other fashion-based shows out there?
It’s myself, Isaac Mizrahi and Fern Mallis above anything, and you know we are really great judges – we’re very fair, we really care about the designers. We weren’t allowed to give them any points or tips when we were walking through the creative studios that they were working out of, and I remember thinking to myself, ‘Would I wear that?’ and asking them, ‘Are you sure you want to put a zipper there?’

Would you ever wear one of the handmade dresses featured on the show?
If it were done right, of course, but it’s so funny to have watched them put together the dress in an hour. I’m watching their faces when we say, ‘You have to make this into a little black dress – in an hour’, and how they freak out, and how some of them rise to the challenge and some kind of suffered a little bit.

As a fashion lover you must have been thrilled to get the job.
I was. I kept thinking, ‘What am I bringing to the table as far as being a judge is concerned?’ Like I don’t know anything about making clothes and they were like, ‘We love the fact that you do love clothes, one, and two, you look at the fit and how it would look on and stuff like that’.

“Sometimes in the female community I feel like we size each other up instead of reaching out and supporting each other. We could do more and that’s what it’s all about.”

Does the show translate for British viewers?
Definitely. Everyone can even try some of the challenges themselves. I remember going with some of my friends and trying the little black dress and we all screwed up. [Laughs].

Finally, tell us about your charity project.
‘I Heart My Girlfriends’ is all about empowering females. I’m so excited about it because it’s all about uplifting and building each other up. Sometimes in the female community I feel like we size each other up instead of reaching out and supporting each other. We could do more and that’s what it’s all about.