Exclusive: 'Notorious' Actress Antonique Smith Releases EP, Talks Love, Dating & Activism

‘Notorious’ actress and Grammy nominated singer, Antonique Smith, held a private party at New York City’s Le Reve lounge, Thursday night (November. 19, 2015,) to celebrate the release of her new EP, ‘Love Is Everything,’.

The EP, a six song compilation, Smith says is long overdue. We were able to speak with the actress and singer, not only about the release but also about her upcoming projects, whether she’s single and why she’s so passionate about being an activist for the Black community.

On Releasing Her EP, ‘Love Is Everything’
It’s something I’ve been dreaming about since I was a kid. Acting is what I’ve been doing a lot of, and, for so long it’s been taking over. I was on Broadway playing Mimi [Martinez] on Rent for a long time. Then I did Notorious, I did some TV, I did some more movies and then when I met my manager, he said it was time to do my music, period.

We did single “Hold Up Wait A Minute.” Well, first we did a Kickstarter [campaign] and raised over $50,00 in thirty days before anyone knew what Kickstarter was. Then we did, “Hold Up Wait A Minute,” and got a Grammy nomination. My first song ever and got Grammy nominated as an independent artist.

How She Describes Her Sound
I’d say, pop soul with a Hip Hop appeal. It’s a fusion.

I grew up in East Orange, NJ. Whitney Houston was my first inspiration. I was inspired by Whitney, Celine Dion and Aretha Franklin. I love live music and I love Hip Hop. That’s what I listen to. It’s a fusion of those things. And I grew up in the church. So it’s a fusion of the things that I love so very much.

On Being An Activist
Besides other acting gigs, music is my first passion, my first love. The EP is called ‘Live Is Everything…’ a name I had years ago. I just thought it was so cool. The name is so true to my message. I’m also an activist. I’ve been traveling the country with the Hip Hop Caucus talking about climate change movement and how the amount of population in our air and in our water is giving us cancer and asthma. Everyone wants you to believe it’s hereditary because they don’t want to lose the profits they are making the money from being able to dump pollution in our neighborhoods.

68% of African Americans live within 30 miles of power plants. Those power plants give off more emissions than cars and planes and trains put together. So I’ve been going around the country trying to get people to join [the movement]. It’s not about raising money. It’s about starting a movement. That’s one aspect of love that’s actually taken up a lot of my time.

On Her Activism Relates to Her Music
I was almost late releasing my EP because I was so passionate about what I’ve been doing. I sang for the Pope at the National Mall when he was in DC, where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. It’s been a blessing and love is the most positive force in the world and we don’t use it. We don’t use enough of it. It’s the antidote. It’s the cure for the bad things that are going on in this world, from Black Lives Matter to Paris; people dying at concerts and cafes to everything. Whatever people are going through that are bad, love cures all of that.

I’m simply trying to share a message of love and Love Is Everything, a six song EP, is a small aspect of different experiences of love. We started off with a song called, “Got What I Need,” a celebration of the regular guy working hard and loving his woman. He’s the king. It’s not about the ballers. The ballers are cool but they get a lot of praise. What about the regular good guy. He may not have a lot of money but he knows how to please.

On Whether She’s Single
Yes, I’m single and dating.

Something People Don’t Know About Her
I have a special needs sister, Antonia. She is my whole heart. I think she’s why I like to fight so much for the underdog. With my philanthropy work, people don’t know that they’re under attack. They don’t know that they’re dying. They think it’s hereditary because that’s what they’re being told. They don’t realize that there are forces, powerful and rich, that are doing things that are jeopardizing their life. My sister can’t speak for herself because she has special needs. And so, the people around the world that don’t know what’s going on can’t speak for themselves because they don’t even know. That’s why I feel so passionate about speaking out and really helping the people that can’t help themselves.

Current and Upcoming Films
Well, ‘Love Is Everything’ is out now. It’s my first body of work. I’ve only had “Hold Up Wait A Minute.” I’ve never had a body or work. I’ve put out singles.

I shot two movies this year. I did “Stock Action” which aired on TV One. It’s a TV One movie and we doubled their ratings. I was the star of that movie.

I’m also in “Deuces” with Larenz Tate and Lance Gross and Meagan Good, which comes out in January. It may be pushed back but it will come out next year in theaters.

On Releasing an Album
Next year [2016]. It might be a continuation of “Love Is Everything. More love experiences.

On Whether She’d Do Reality TV
It would have to be the right thing. More like a docu-series not reality TV because reality TV isn’t real. There’s also a lot of drama with reality TV. My message is about love so I don’t want to have a bunch of drama for ratings.

What Else We Can Expect From Her
More movies, more music and more love.

In attendance to support the singer and actress was singer Faith Evans, whose been a longtime supporter since Smith portrayed her in 2009’s ‘Notorious,’ and ‘Power’ actress Naturi Naughton.