Music

R&B siren and new fashion muse Ciara drops in on Drai’s

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Comfortable and confident: Ciara brings new material from Jackie to Drai’s this weekend.

She’s the new face of Roberto Cavalli, repping the legendary design house’s fall collection. She’s one of the celeb stars of NBC’s new variety show I Can Do That, and she just dropped her sixth album of glossy R&B-pop, Jackie. Ciara’s been more than a little busy, but the sultry Southern siren still carved out a night for a quick Vegas trip along her current tour agenda. We talked with Ciara about career highlights, musical evolution and her first time at Drai’s Beachclub & Nightclub.

Where does working with Roberto Cavalli fall on your list of favorite career moments? It’s definitely major. I grew up wishing to wear prestigious designs but I couldn’t afford high-end stuff. It’s one thing when you’re able to buy them, but this is one of the coolest feelings in the world. It’s a dream come true. And also, you know, fashion is music and music is fashion, and one inspires the other.

It’s hard to believe your first album came out more than 10 years ago, and now you’re on No. 6. Time goes by so fast. I’m going on the 13th year of my career. Things have changed tremendously since then. Now a lot of people put out an album twice a year.

You have a lot of hits, and they’re so instantly recognizable as your songs. Is it difficult to change or evolve your sound when you know what the expectations are? It is, but it’s a necessary challenge. It’s like the weight of life—we’re always trying to figure out how to grow as people, and as an artist it’s important to continue to grow because it leads to longevity. I’ve been fortunate to be able to do a lot of cool things, but I’m more excited about what I still haven’t done. I used to be very shy and reserved with my thoughts, creatively. I’d write songs inspired by life but worry about what this person or that person is gonna think. Now, I’m in the most comfortable and confident place I’ve ever been in my life, and I want to put that into my music.

You’ve performed in Vegas clubs, but this is your first time up on the roof at Drai’s. It’s going to be fun. I really like doing things like this, a little unconventional, not the thing you expect. The tour so far has been amazing and the fans are incredible, but I think this is going to be a special night because it’s a very different environment. And I just love going to Vegas. ... I really like to go see the shows. I don’t know any other place that has these types of shows, with the level of production quality Vegas has. I really appreciate that. It’s an amazing city, very unique. Everyone needs to visit in their lifetime.

Ciara June 5, 10:30 p.m., Drai's. $20+ women, $30+ men.

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Brock Radke

Brock Radke is an award-winning writer and columnist who currently occupies the role of managing editor at Las Vegas Weekly ...

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