Amber, as she is known to her fans via such dance club sensations as “Sexual (Li Da Di),” “This Is Your Night,” “Above The Clouds,” and her cover of “If You Could Read My Mind” (with Ultra Naté and Jocelyn Enriquez), or Marie Claire, as she is known to her friends and family, is back with a new CD titled My Kind Of World (JMCA Enterprises). Covering a variety of musical genres, Amber doesn’t forsake her dance music fans, even releasing multiple remixes of the song “You Move Me.” Currently on tour in support of her new album, she took time out of her busy schedule to chat with the Gay & Lesbian Times.

Gay & Lesbian Times: You are the second former Tommy Boy Records artist that I know of to release an independent album in the year 2004. The first is RuPaul. Without burning too many bridges, why did you end your working relationship with Tommy Boy?

Amber: I just saw an industry that was too conventional in its thinking – an industry that was blindsided by the years of blissful wealth – while everything was changing so fast, including the way of handling their business. I had to move on, Honey, it was just time for me to explore and put to the test what I had learned and picked up along the way.

GLT: What is the significance to you of being an independent artist?

A: The significance is that I now do enjoy creative freedom and do determine and know which budgets are involved, as I am the one making all final decisions with a team around me that consults with me on the positive and negative. The significance is also that I own my music masters which ultimately means that I can license each song the way I think is right.

GLT: Is there one thing that distinguishes the independent recording artist Amber from the major-label Amber?

A: I openly would like to plead that my genre not be defined, but that I am viewed as an artist who is evolving in her craft. This record is an example of all of the shades of who I am as a woman and as an artist as well as a songwriter. Personally, I can’t define this as a one genre CD. That is definitely something I could not do on my past CDs (laughs)!

GLT: Do you think that the contacts you established with DJs in the previous chapter of your career will continue to embrace you now as an independent dance artist?

A: I certainly hope so. I have never been the “smooching up” kind of girl. I am pretty much a real person whether as “Amber” the artist or Marie Claire, the daughter, friend or mother. I really enjoy hanging out and talking to people and e-mailing back and forth. Whether it is with DJs or my fans, I feel that I have developed some really strong, real relationships over the years.

A: My producer, Wolfram Dettki, loves to play with these unique sounds. He just has this incredible library full of them – these Middle Eastern sounds are just so mystical sounding and the melody lines are just out of this world and are so serene and create a certain mood. They just make you listen harder, differently. It felt very natural and also very unconventional at the same time, to take these sounds and put them in a rockier or electronica environment. Combining the sounds just felt right.

GLT: There is also a rock edge on songs such as “Private War” and “Just Like That (Romeo and Juliet)”. Is there a more rock-oriented album in your future?

A: I don’t know where the future will lead me. I try to take it moment by moment. For me, anything is possible (another great thing about being independent and having the freedom to create what I like) and the music will reflect the state of where I am at the moment. I like to work with a certain edge that separates me from others and I try to always look for the uniqueness in everything – whether it is in music (mine or other people’s) or fabrics for my home. I am just not a good natural follower and I do not like for people to pigeonhole me and expect me to sound like what they think I should sound like. I guess it will all be a big surprise, for me as well!

GLT: As one might expect, there is still a strong dance vibe throughout the album, particularly on songs such as “You Move Me” and “Voodoo.” Do you think you will always include dance music on your future releases?

A: The dance genre is an aspect of my career which has given me so much, for which I am eternally grateful and I can’t imagine releasing a single without remixes. But, as I evolve personally and artistically, whatever has influenced me and my producer throughout our lives will definitely be reflected in the songs. This CD does have an edgier, rockier feel because of the things I had been going through as I was writing and recording the CD – a divorce, finding my way into my own place as an independent artist, running my own label and other, heavier things as opposed to some of the subjects I wrote and sang about on my earlier work.

Wolfram and I feel very strongly about letting different genres and cultures flow into each other and then you just create something really unique that you cannot really put into a box. We also decided to work on a fully remixed album for this latest release — with the difference being that we like what we hear and actually feel musically satisfied with it. Remixing is a different musical interpretation and impression of an existing song.

GLT: For someone who is a newcomer to your music, what one song on My Kind of World would you select as the best portrayal of who you are as an artist, and please say why you chose that song?

A: That is like making me choose one of my children over another! That question is very hard as there are so many layers to me as a woman and so many different emotions that cannot be interpreted in just one song, but need a whole album to explain all the depths. I leave that to you to judge – I cannot be objective enough, being such a big part of the creation. I do love that you refer to me as an artist though, rather than simply a dance artist. I wrote almost all of the songs on My Kind Of World and produced the record with Wolfram, oversaw mastering, produced the EPK (electronic press kit) and am hands on in every aspect of my career. My greatest wish is to be known as a songwriter and vocalist.

GLT: Will you be playing club dates, including gay clubs, in support My Kind of World

A: Yes. I will be playing wherever I can to promote my new album and I will always play the gay clubs, I need the great energy that I get from my amazing, loyal gay audiences!

Amber will be performing at Rich’s, Saturday Nov. 13