Willa Ford Reflects on ‘Character Building’ Rise During the Early 2000s Pop Music Boom (Exclusive)

Willa Ford, the pop sensation best known for her hit single “I Wanna Be Bad,” has released her first album in a quarter of a century, titled ‘amanda’. The album debuted on March 6 and marks a significant return for the artist, who has been reflecting on her career and the early 2000s pop scene in a recent interview with PEOPLE.

Looking back on her rise to fame, Ford described her experience as both exhilarating and challenging. She fondly reminisced about the time, calling it “the greatest time to be alive” but also “the hardest.” Now 45, Ford acknowledges that navigating the pop industry was a character-building journey. “It’s only character building,” she stated, urging against a victim mentality. Instead, she emphasised the importance of moving forward and not dwelling on the past.

During the early 2000s, Ford experienced the pressures of being a female pop star at a time when public perception often pitted artists against one another. Reflecting on this competitive environment, she said, “The women, and anybody in that era, we worked so hard.” In her view, the intense rivalry was unfounded, as many of these artists barely had the opportunity to connect given their packed schedules.

Ford also highlighted the arduous nature of the lifestyle at that time, remarking on how exhausting it was for female stars like herself, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, and Mandy Moore. “To pit anybody against each other was such a fault because we didn’t even see each other,” she elaborated. This sense of collective struggle echoes through her memories, where the women of that era were simply too busy to engage in feuds, instead focusing on their careers.

In addressing the similarities drawn between them by fans and the media, Ford expressed her belief that such comparisons often oversimplify their individuality. “If you sat down with Jessica and then you sit down with me, we’re probably so different,” she remarked. The comparison, she noted, could be likened to saying that friends are alike simply because they share the same hairdresser.

Ford’s thoughts also extended to the possibility of a reunion tour featuring the female pop stars from that era. “It would be a dream,” she said, envisioning performances where they could celebrate one another’s talents and hard work. “Every night [we’d be] like, ‘You’re the s—, you’re the s—, you’re the s—,'” she enthused, lamenting that they were too young to fully appreciate their shared success.

The conversations Ford is having today about the significance of camaraderie and support among female performers seem to resonate against the backdrop of her new album. ‘amanda’ aims to showcase her evolution as an artist, highlighting the unique qualities each performer brought to the music industry.

As Willa Ford prepares to share her latest work with her fans, she embraces a sense of gratitude for her past experiences. Feeling “so fortunate and lucky” for her time in the spotlight, she is keenly aware of the hard work that paved the way for her return. Through ‘amanda’, Ford not only seeks to reconnect with her audience but also to remind herself and others of the joyous potential of female solidarity in the digital age of music.

With her new album out now, Ford is eager to engage with her fans and bring her new sound to a contemporary audience, maintaining that the diverse group of artists from her past offers a refreshing array of perspectives in today’s music landscape. The reflection on her journey invites listeners to appreciate both the struggles and successes of those who paved the way in the entertainment industry.