ESSENCE (September 2000) pg.95
TAKING FLIGHT
Hers was the voice that made Quincy Jones's "Put a Move on My Heart" a
hit single. And after debuting at a glitzy Hollywood reception in 1995
with the legendary producer, Canadian-born songstress Tamia--who
wasn't even 20 years old--seemed firmly positioned to be music's next
big thing. But then, silence.
In spite of the success of that Grammy-nominated single, it took
nearly three years for her first album to hit the stores. By that
time, many of the singer's fans had simply moved on. "I wasn't real
happy about what happened with my last record." she says. "Other
people were in charge of my music, my image--everything--which left
little space for me."
A lot has changed since then. Tamia has left Jones's Qwest Records and
signed with Elektra in 1999--the same year she wed NBA all-star Grant
Hill. Her new album, slated for release next month, showcases her
edgier side with streetwise tracks produced by hitmakers like Missy
Elliott and Dallas Austin. "I'm not interested in being a cold and
remote princess," she says, referring to the squeaky-clean image that
stifled her on her freshman effort. "I want this record to show the
real me--someone who is pretty cool and down-to-earth. I'm just an
everyday girl. I don't wake Lip wearing lip gloss and Dolce."
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