New Orleans native and singer/songwriter Ambré Perkins has spent the past several years delivering r&b that’s honestly raw yet poetic. She began developing a strong fanbase as a solo artist in 2015 following the release of her debut project Wanderlust alongside a cover of Drake’s “Preach” with Kehlani. A year later, she would drop the well-received 2090’s featuring fan favorites, including “Nintendo $hawty” and “Fantasy.”

Her profile as a songwriter would rise to new heights as Ambré co-wrote a few tracks, “Changes” and “U,” for H.E.R. 's Grammy Award-winning 2019 self-titled album. This eventually led to more collaborations with artists across multiple genres, from TOKiMONSTA to Keys N Krates. The same year would, also have her releasing her Pulp EP and signing a deal with Roc Nation.

2022’s 3000° EP became Ambré’s breakout project with the chart-topping single “I’m Baby.” The single featuring Jvck James would land the top spot in Billboard's Adult R&B Radio charts in May. It also helps that a tour promoting the project, appropriately titled The Wild Magnolia Tour led to sold-out shows in areas including Los Angeles, Houston, New York, San Francisco and her hometown of New Orleans.

A year later, Ambré returns with Who’s Loving You? Set for release June 16, the project is a continuation of 3000° with tracks such as “Muse,” “One Call Away,” and a sequel to one of her most popular tracks, “Drake and Drive.”

Speaking with BET.com, she talks about the reaction to her first #1, getting respect from industry vets like T-Pain and creating Who’s Loving You?

BET:  Congrats on your first #1 charting song last month with "I'm Baby" on the adult R&B radio charts. Can you describe your feeling, considering you've been working since releasing Wanderlust in 2015?

Ambré: It’s humbling cause it was never my goal to be at the top of the charts. I just wanted people to connect with my music, so I felt honored and grateful.

BET:  Do you remember the moment you created "I'm Baby" and its inspiration?

Ambré: This was made during a camp where I got this AirB&B with a bunch of my friends that I make music with and my best friend Destin Conrad. He started that song off basically with the hook melody. It didn’t have any words or anything like that. He was like ‘I made this thing, I don’t really like it.’ I was like nah you tripping. I just ended up just writing, fleshing out the hook and everything.

BET:  You're performing as a part of T-Pain's Escape from Wiscansin Festival this month. Does it feel affirming to be respected by industry vets like him?

Ambré: It’s very affirming. This is a full circle moment because T-Pain was one of the first to fly me out for music. This is before I even had a project out when I was 17 years old. He flew me out to Atlanta to work on some music that never came out. It was still a big moment for me and it’s cool now that I have music that someone like him can recognize.

BET:  Who’s Loving You? Is an extension of 3000° which was released nearly a year ago. Can you describe how much Who’s Loving You? compliments your previous project?

Ambré: I feel like it compliments it in a way. Think of it sort of like the deep cuts or B-sides. That’s the field that I wanted to bring to it. Who’s Loving You? where 3000° ends. The last song on 3000° ended with the soundscape of the rain. On this project, that’s how it starts as well. So, it’s just kind of a continuation but also another side of it.

BET:  Listening to your Who’s Loving You? project and that "Pt.II Drake and Drive" joint is fire and the sequel to “Drake and Drive” from 3000°. Considering you covered Drake's with Kehlani, how much of an inspiration has Drizzy been to your music-making approach?

Ambré: I love how Drake creates albums, especially the first three or four. To me, I love just the rollout and everything. I feel he does well put together well-rounded projects. They’re just concise and very listenable. I admire that. Drake also isn’t scared to be in his feelings which is how I am.

BET:  You just wrapped up the second leg of The Wild Magnolia Tour. What was one of the most revealing things about your fans as you went from show to show?

Ambré: The most revealing thing? That’s funny. I could say that I got a lot of gay fans.

BET: With that said, how does it feel to be in a music space where you can have a lot of gay fans who see themselves in your music?

Ambré: It feels good because it just means people are connecting with me. It’s more than just ‘I like this song.’ It’s a deeper connection and that’s always what I want.

BET:  You worked on a few tracks on Masego’s self-titled album released this year? Can you recall the moment of linking with him and expanding outside of R&B, which you do often.

Ambré: Me and Masego have a lot of mutual friends so I always see him around. He’s always showing me love whenever I put music out. It just kind of happened naturally. He had a session with this producer that I worked with a lot named Louie Lastic. I had a session right after him and pulled up kind of early. He was like hop on this song real quick or help me with this.

For me, I don’t feel trapped by any genre. I’m from New Orleans, so there’s so much music and so many different kinds of sounds.That’s just how I came up. I like to be open when making music and just being experimental.

BET:  Where do your musical roots and inspirations in New Orleans lay, considering your last project title was 3000° alongside the Jay Electronica feature?

Ambré: First thing, having Jay Electronica is just a massive flex. I’m not one to flex, but that’s what I do flex about. But when it comes to New Orleans, it’s just ingrained in me when it comes to my art. I don’t think about it. As far as putting together a project, shooting the cover, doing music videos and telling the story, it’s a big thing for me to capture the culture differently than what people are used to. When people think New Orleans, they think Mardi Gras and Lil Wayne. However, it’s so much more to it and that’s what I try to capture.