Interview: Mya, R&B Sensation

Mya: I'm doing well how are you?

Andrew Bess: Better now that I'm talking to you [laughs]. Why is the album titled 'Liberation,' and what are you liberated from?

Mya: Well, I'm set free from a lot of things and wonderful breaks in my life. I have a new way of thinking and all of it is positive. I'm just happy to be standing in my shoes and my skin today because I really love who I am.

Andrew Bess: So is there any personal experience that you have been liberated from?

Mya: Yeah, lots of insecurity. As far as a personal situation as an example would be my family being back on speaking terms. Secondly my family is all involved in my career. Thirdly, I'm a single woman and I am happy. And you know I've been dealing with a whole lot of drama over the course of the last 9 years. I've been in a lot of relationships back to back and now I'm just loving myself.

Andrew Bess: This is said to be the most personal album you've put out so far. What makes it so personal?

Mya: Well I'm sharing a lot of different things that I haven't before. [Laughs] Like my ego is definitely exposed. My big ego is exposed, along with my pride. Not to mention some of the things that tick me off and also some of the things that I can't handle and most of these things that get me down are exposed and it usually has to do with men.

Andrew Bess: Why all the push backs on the release?

Mya: Well it's all business related. You know I did this album in 3 months and it was an easy process because I knew what I wanted to do when I went in. It's just business you know. The music industry is suffering so record companies have to scrap for money. Plus I would rather wait for them to get it right before I do an album.

Andrew Bess: Do you have bad blood with A&M Records since parting ways to go to Motown?

Mya: Oh no not at all. They were great it was just a transition I personally wanted to make along with my management because you can tend to wait in this business on the back burner. Sometimes you get lost in the shuffle that's all.

Andrew Bess: What have you been doing in the time between albums? And what is the typical day for you?

Mya: I haven't taken a vacation at all yet. I've been doing a couple of films and I've also been teaching 3 years straight. I also built a studio and learned sound engineering and production. I've also been studying acting, recording another album, and performing over seas internationally. I'm constantly working on something.

Andrew Bess: Is this a typical Mya album? What can fans expect?

Mya: This is definitely not a typical Mya album. [Laughs] Yeah, definitely not a typical Mya album. I've basically done what my heart guided me to do on every album, but I have to say this is just a Mya album for wherever I am in that point of life. I think that all of my albums are different from each other.

Andrew Bess: Would you say people are going to be surprised with this album?

Mya: I think people are going to relate a lot to the lyrics, especially females. I think we are the ones that tend to get very emotional in relationships and what to know and how to handle it properly.

Andrew Bess: Your mom is your business manager and your dad is also a manager. Do you feel this keeps you grounded?

Mya: Yeah I do. I think that having family around helps look out for my best interest. I think that is one of the main reasons I made the transition from west to east. Family around helps keep you reminded of your goals. It also reminds you of where you came from because some people forget and can get lost. It's a great balance and they always look out for what's best.

Andrew Bess: You said in a previous interview that you had a lot of low moments that is shown in some of the songs where you really stalked someone you thought you loved. How did it come to that and why did you feel that is necessary to share with the world?

Mya: I didn't think that it was necessary to share with the world on this album, but I was really insecure about things. I've always tried to put on a strong confident front even with a smile when I was bothered by things. The song about stalking came from me just wanting to know the truth. I just wanted to go into the studio naturally and get it off of my chest. I've gotten a lot of reactions because a girl or a guy can relate to these songs. I realized that it's okay to let go Mya, and share your insecure side [laughs] even though sometimes it's something you will be ashamed of. That's why I thought it was a little necessary to share. It's the point not to be perfect ya know. And more people in the world are not perfect. And that's what normal is. I'm cool with that. People do want to know what I'm liberated from and I'm showing it.

Andrew Bess: In the past you said some comments about 50 Cent regarding rumors between the two of you. You said something like, "I don't know how he would get Lloyd Banks confused with me"?) Did 50 ever respond to that comment? And do you regret it?

Mya: Umm no he didn't, or not that I'm aware of. [Laughs] and no I don't regret saying that.

Andrew Bess: 50 drops his album about a week before you, any words for Curtis?

Mya: Congratulations and I wish him much success.

Andrew Bess: Your album drops September 18th as does other singers such as Keyshia Cole and Cassie. Do you feel you have to compete with these newer artists since you haven't had a studio album since Moodring in 2003?

Mya: No. I don't think about that kind of stuff, people do on the business side, but I don't.

Andrew Bess: Do you feel you have to reintroduce yourself to the music fans?

Mya: Well I think that I just have to be consistent and be as visual as possible. We are in a media driven world, and I just think that consistency as well as exposure will be the reintroduction. But yeah you do have to be visible for people.

Andrew Bess: You were in The Game's video for 'Dreams' for his album. And you have him on your latest record. What's the track about?

Mya: We recorded in the studio for the album, but it's not on this album. It may be given away as a bonus.

Andrew Bess: Who else is on the album and who produced it?

Mya: Snoop is on the album; Lil Wayne is on the album, and Charlie Baltimore. And production was done by myself, Tricky Stewart, Scott Storch, Bryan Michael Cox, and Jonathan "J.R." Rotem.

Andrew Bess: You said that you also produced it, what have you learned from that and how does it make this album more personal?

Mya: Well being able to engineer now, I can actually play with the music and mix it myself. I produced all the vocals so it helped me be more hands on.

Andrew Bess: Do you feel you can use what you've learned to help produce other artists' albums in the future?

Mya: I would like to. I would love to get into recording soundtracks eventually. It's really fun to me, it's a long process and hard work but I like it.

Andrew Bess: You've said in the past that various relationships closed you up and made you feel insecure. Do you still have those insecurities?

Mya: I'm completely liberated from that way of thinking; which is a jaded way of thinking and I think that when you are in love you can quickly get lost in love and not have different instincts that can be right or wrong. It's a catch 22 when you really want to know the truth dealing with bad relationships. I try to think positive thoughts nowadays but sometimes I need to step back and count to ten before I do something stupid [laughs]. But I'm not the person I was before and I just think I was in a bad place. Now I'm like, whatever, I have nothing to lose and I can just say what's on my mind. If you like it or not; you just can't please the world.

Andrew Bess: So do you feel that these past relationship insecurities have made you hold back from new relationships?

Mya: I'm not looking at all for a relationship. I'm happy with the way I am right now. Everyone needs somebody I guess. [Laughs] but I'm not even on that page anymore, and that's a great place to be. Right now I'm doing me and I'm not thinking about pleasing someone else. It's a different day and I'm secure with myself.

Andrew Bess: So single and loving it?

Mya: I really am [laughs] I really am. But I love men, and maybe that's my weakness. It's just that it's not a priority right now being in a relationship.

Andrew Bess: So it's not a hard single life?

Mya: Uhhh, a lot of my female friends are pretty gangsta! [Laughs] A lot of my male friends are gay, and a lot of my female friends are just gangsta [laughs]. They are calling shots and what not; I really look up to them. So no it isn't.

Andrew Bess: So here is a question all guys want answered. What do you think of journalists? Do they have a chance?

Mya: What do I think? I would have to do my research [laughs]. I'm not gonna say anything that I don't know about; I would have to just do my research [on you]...

Mya's newest CD titled 'Liberation' hits stores nationwide September 18^th, 2007.