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The year 2003 was very atypical for Jaci Velasquez, who had known nothing but success since her smashing 1996 debut, Heavenly Place. She's been a chart-topper on both Christian radio and Hispanic radio all along, but all that came to a halt in '03. Her latest CD, Unspoken, sold well but fell short of expectations, she had no Number 1 hits on radio, her Spanish album Milagro bombed, and her film debut, in Chasing Papi, was a box-office bust. Despite the setbacks, it was also a year of great joy for Jaci, who got married last August—to Darren Potuck of Goshen, Indiana. We recently talked to Velasquez about the ups and downs of 2003—starting with the downs.

After all your success career-wise, how'd you deal with a year like 2003?

Jaci VelasquezI don't blame my fans. I don't blame the choices I've made. I don't really blame anyone. A lot of it has to do with the economy. Basically all the artists on our label (Word/Warner) have faced the same things, so I can't really take it too hard or be hard on myself or my fans. It's kinda where our country is at. My record label doesn't have the money that it had three years ago, when Crystal Clear came out. Unless you're doing worship music, there really is no place for you on Christian radio, which has taken quite a big turn.

Was there a moment of insecurity where you felt people didn't like you as much?

VelasquezDefinitely. There were a lot of moments when I thought, Maybe I should just hang it up and retire. Or, Maybe people really don't want me anymore. But then I'd look at the charts and see other artists come and go, but my album was still there. So in a way that reassured me that people still want me, that they still listen when I say something. That's something I shouldn't take lightly.

How about your Spanish album, Milagro?

VelasquezThat was totally a record label thing. My label [Sony Discos at the time] totally fell apart at the moment the record came out. The moment it released, my president got fired, so that fell through the cracks.

Despite the setbacks, you're working on new material.

VelasquezYeah. With this new album I'm making, it's been a little bit different. In a way, it's kind of liberating. Since I've adapted and conformed stylistically and lyrically for so many years, this time I'm going to make the record I've been wanting to make for a long time. I'm recording it in London with Martin Terefe, a producer who's worked with Coldplay, a-Ha, Ron Sexsmith, and a lot of indie, underground UK artists that nobody in the U.S. has really heard about. A lot of the music that I listen to is not the type of music I make, so for the first time in my life I'm making a record that, sonically, it's what I listen to. For the first time in my life I'm going, "Whoah, this might not sell, but it's cool!"

Now I'm definitely intrigued.

VelasquezIf I were to try to describe to my fans the new music I'm making, it would scare them away! But I'm not going to do that. I'm going to let it come out and let them decide for themselves. They're going to be surprised. Before, when I was asked what I listened to, I would say Coldplay, Radiohead, The Flaming Lips, stuff like that. But when I was asked who I sounded like, I'd say, "It's a cross between Celine Dion and Gloria Estefan." Now, what I listen to and my own style are going to be a little more consistent.

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