Angelique Kidjo Says New Lilith Fair Will Be 'Beautiful'

Angelique Kidjo may not be performing at this year's Lilith Fair, but the festival alum believes that the all-female music fest hasn't lost its edge or relevance.

"It's going to be beautiful because you're going to have so many talented young females today that have, in their family or in their surroundings, women who are struggling with the issue of freedom and just rights," Kidjo tells Spinner. "And Lilith Fair is going to be a good thing to bring back. It doesn't matter what subject we pick on, but women celebrating music is very important for the young kids out there, especially the young girls that want to embrace music talent and music careers."

The Grammy winner doesn't think Lilith Fair's revival will be as easy because the hype isn't as great as it once was. Still, Kidjo encourages young people to use to continue pushing Lilith Fair's message out there. "We have to use the technology that exists today to bring the message out there. That's what is exciting for me," she says.

Although Kidjo is excited for all the new female acts on this year's Lilith Fair roster, she admits that singer-songwriter Adele, who won't be playing the festival, is one of her favorite artists. "Adele is great," she says. "I love her voice. Her voice sounds like somebody that has past 100 years. It is mature, it's down there and it's real, so that's what I like about it."

Kidjo also applauds the 'Hometown Glory' singer for not following what society deems as beautiful. "[Adele's] not skinny like standard of what they say," she says. "They dictate that you've got to be skinny, you've got to be a size zero, size two. It's weird. It's just like, 'Why? Why can't people be what they want to be?' And you're telling them they've got to be a skeleton."

Kidjo's new album, 'Oyo,' is currently is stores now.