Mya
R&B/pop star Mya returns to the scene with a new sound that infuses her existing pop feel with more house driven tracks from Cedric Gervais. Check out this exclusive with Mya as she speaks about the house music scene, working with Beenie Man, the whole “Lady Marmalade” entourage, and more!
WHO?MAG: How did this collaboration come about? R&B and dance Music?
Mya: It’s just music, that’s all.
WHO?MAG: Mya, are you a big fan of techno/house music?
Mya: I am a big fan of music period, and especially dance music. I love to dance. Cedric and I hooked up through Ultra Records working on a project together. We’ve been in the studio recently working on a new single and we have some wonderful material including a single which belongs to the campaign, and the new song is called “Love is the Answer”.
WHO?MAG: How was the vibe between you and Cedric in the studio?
Mya: Very creative. It’s a great environment. We worked together very quickly because we are both artists first.
WHO?MAG: Are you still with Interscope?
Mya: I left Interscope under the Universal umbrella in 2005. I transistioned to Motown Records and now I have my own label.
WHO?MAG: How is the independent situation working?
Mya: Actually its going very well. I put out three albums on my own label so far. Two in Japan and one here.
WHO?MAG: Tell me about how your mentor Haq Islam come about?
Mya: He was at my first label with Universal, I was signed to him. It was sort of like a pre-production house and independent label where he signed Dru Hill, … souls, and me, but that was like family. He later signed the label to Interscope.
WHO?MAG: What did you learn from Haq?
Mya: What I learned from Haq is to take your time with a project.
WHO?MAG: What do you feel is the biggest change you have seen in the music industry since you first started in 1998?
Mya: Well in 1998, I had my first cell phone (laughs). I also had my first laptop, that’s when I set up my first email account. I would have to say the music industry has changed with technology. Some people consider it a negative thing in the music industry while others consider it a great way for promotion. If you learn how to capitalize off of it and use it to your advantage to network with people, then you win. It’s definitely a transition, but still in the middle of adjusting. I look at it as positive overall because you have a direct connection and access to so much information.
WHO?MAG: How did you hook up with Beenie Man a few years ago?
Mya: I worked with Beenie Man on my album “Fear of Flying” and I worked with him on his album which became a single “Girls dem Sugar”. It was great working with him. I did a show with him at Sun Splash and it was very similar to what is happening in Miami right now. There were parties on the beach until 8am. I loved the energy. It’s all about people.
WHO?MAG: How did you hook up with Lil’ Kim, Pink, and Christina Aguilera for “Lady Marmalade”?
Mya: It was actually really nice working with the girls for “Lady Marmalade” because I have always been working with guys in the business and never really girls. Girls don’t usually work together as much because of insecurities or egos, but I have seen guys always working together. I wish there was more of that because it was my first experience working in a setting where there were other females and great energy. There were no cat fights like people usually say. It was a great project and a great film to be a part of.
WHO?MAG: I heard that you speak fluent Spanish. Have you ever thought about doing a Spanish album?
Mya: I actually never did a Spanish album, but I did a lot of mixes and Spanish versions of songs.
WHO?MAG: Have you ever thought about doing a whole Spanish album?
Mya: I would love to do one. That has always been in the back of my mind.
WHO?MAG: What’s next?
Mya: Go pick up that Miamication and look out for the song “Love is the answer”