Two years since her last studio album and four months after losing a close cousin to a traffic accident, Ashanti told Reuters on Friday (August 18) she is back and ready to return to her singing-songwriting career.

"Obviously no one wants to go through pain and being hurt, you know, the tragedy of things. But I think it makes you stronger. I think it makes you want to win and that drive," Ashanti told Reuters before her performance at a charity concert in downtown Tokyo organised by the US clothes retailer GAP.

Despite the void in her singing career, Ashanti has kept busy, releasing a book of poetry, perfumes and more recently "Ashanti's OPC-3 Beauty Blend" nutritional supplements.

Keeping her head above it all in the industry however has not been easy.
"You know it is so important and so imperative to have your own individuality in this industry because you are followed by so many people and that is what makes you stand out and that's what makes you successful," she said.

"There are so many differently images that are put on and portrayed and sometimes your image doesn't match you who are as a person. With with me I am who I am. I am positive person, I just like to give out that positive energy," she added, explaining that her family and team are the ones that manage to keep her down to earth.

The hit vocalist was forced to cancel a performance in Johannesburg, South Africa in April earlier this year after her cousin Quinshae Snead, 20, died in an accident caused by a teenager who had stolen his mother's car and was driving drunk without a licence.

Currently Ashanti is back in the swing of things, recording her fourth album.
"I am so ready for people to hear a new sound and just to see the growth because its been a while since I released a studio album and we just got a whole new bunch of producers, and I am writing differently , and obviously.. there's been growth. So you're going to be able to tell the major difference between the previous album," said 26 year-old Grammy award winner. "This time, it's going to be an event," she added.

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