India.Arie has been heralded as a champion of truth and self-expression since her very first single "Video." She's back with a new album. Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship arrives in stores on June 27th. The first single is title "I Am Not My Hair." Some fans may not know that not too long ago India cut off all of her hair bald. She admits she was nervous to do it but she learned a lot about herself after doing it.

What is the inspiration behind I Am Not My Hair?
India.Arie- Of course it started when I cut my hair. When I started writing the song is when I became free to play around with my hair. That's when I really started to write that song. For awhile I wore it bald, a lot of people don't know that because I didn't have any videos or anything with it that was when I was taking my break. I wore it bald and I started to be free and just experiment and wear braids and everything. That's the inspiration behind it but the song is really saying I don't have to live up to anyone's expectations and I also don't have to have a bunch of expectations for myself. I can just be free and continue to create myself.

There are some misconceptions and maybe you can set it straight that maybe you are anti-hair weave. What are your feelings about women who wear hair weave?
India.Arie-I think people should do whatever they want and be comfortable with it. My whole thing is a person should be doing it because that's what they want and not because they are trying to be something. I think people should do whatever they want. On the cover of the "I Am Not My Hair" single I have long braid extensions all the way down to my booty. I have no problem with that I just think people should express the truth of who they are..let me backtrack for me it's important to express the truth of who I am. That's what I sing about in my music. People think that I'm always trying to tell somebody something but I'm not. I'm expressing myself. If people resonate with it that's a beautiful thing and that's my goal. If God would let people connect with the music. I'm talking about myself and that's it. For me I want to be myself. If someone else has a weave that's them. In my opinion I like to see people do things because that's what they want and not because they are trying to buy into someone's stereotype of who they should be. Whatever they want.

My friend Trina has seen you in concert several times and she had this question. She said you seem to have a real positive self-actualization about yourself. How did you get to that point?
India.Arie-I don't know if that's the case. I just work on myself. If there is something that I am afraid of or something I know I need to deal with I try to deal with it. I think maybe what she is talking about is the joy that she see's when I'm performing. I love performing and I love music and I love to travel. So your friend saw me right in my element having the time of my life. I go through my things but I work on myself. I work on it. I work on it.

It seems like you take nice little breaks in between albums. What are you doing during that down time?
India.Arie-Part of it's just living doing things I can't do if I have to travel a lot. Getting my house together, buying a house, going to the trainer three times a week. Some things you have to be at home to do. I don't think I had a big as break as people think because I was working on my album 2-3 years. I was actually working at home, but working.

Is there a common theme throughout this album?
India.Arie-Yes, it's about the healing process. It's about relationships. It's about a relationship and relationships. It's about the healing process when a relationship is over.

Listen to India.Arie discuss her break and new album

Do you prefer multi-artist tours or solo tours?
India.Arie-I like multi-artist tours. That's fun.

You seem like you are so at peace with everything. Is there anything about your career that you would change?
India.Arie-Yeah. A lot of things. I just…a lot of things. But that's the human condition we are always trying to find a way to be better. You reach one goal and you are on to the next one. I want my business to be more structured. I'd like to be able to have more autonomy. Yeah of course but even when I get that more autonomy it's going to be something else that's what it is to be human.

How did you end up hooking up with Akon for the I Am Not My Hair remix?
India.Arie-It was the labels idea but I'm friends with Akon. We've been friends for 10 years. I thought it was a good idea and I love that Akon, obviously he is singing but he has this energy like he is rhyming. But I like the fact that he walks that fine line on my song I like what he did a lot and I like Akon. Love the way he looked in the video. After 10 years I had a crush on him after I saw him in the video.

Listen to India.Arie discuss the I Am Not My Hair Remix

Do you ever get into scenarios or situations in which you get to sit down and talk with your fans?
India.Arie-Every once in awhile. I talk to people all the time because they talk to me first but then also every once in awhile and it's just the right moment we'll talk. People always expect me to say "I can't talk." Say we are in an elevator and someone starts talking and it's a cool conversation we'll talk.

Is there anything you want to tell me about the new album?
India.Arie-One of the things that I was a little bit nervous about this album is that I'm expressing things that are not all idealistic and it's not all romantic and its not all about everything being okay but it's my truth and I hope people appreciate that about me as well and I love it.

Related Links-http://www.indiaarie.com
http://www.myspace.com/indiaarie