Mya (August 2007)

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Mya: Hello.

MiddleChild: Hey Mya!

Mya: Hey. How are you?

MiddleChild: I’m good. How are you doing?

Mya: Fine. Thank you.

MiddleChild: Cool. Well first of all most of your fans would like to know how things are going with the label change and the album.

Mya: Oh everything is great. Everything is great at Motown. 

MiddleChild: Alright. Cool. Now lets talk about your fourth album, “Liberation” and what you have in store for your fans. What would you like us to get from this album?

Mya: Some really good music and real experiences. Real music. (laughs) The album is based off my experiences and the journey from a dark place to a better place. I’m really proud of this project. At the end of the day I pulled a good team together and I can’t wait to share it with everybody. 

MiddleChild: Cool. Now the release date was set for sometime in September. Are we still looking to that date as tentative or should we just expect it this fall?

Mya: Yea. This fall.

MiddleChild: Alright. With this being your fourth album, I heard that you were stretching out more vocally on this project…

Mya: No. I wouldn’t say that, but the singles display more vocal talent. All my past singles have been real dance related so it wasn’t really necessary. I just think people are going to hear or get the opportunity to hear more of my range as a vocalist.

MiddleChild: That’s good because you definitely represent on the ballads and mid-tempos. So you have been in the game for at least ten years or so, do you feel underrated as an artist?

Mya: No. It’s just that I haven’t really been given enough of an opportunity to actually show my skills. That’s all. With every album I may drop a few videos, but if you’re only given the floor once or twice people don’t really get to see what you’re capable of. So I’m still just beginning to show what I have to offer and if it doesn’t get seen then people will formulate their opinions on what they see. (laughs) So I guess the opinions are based on not much of anything.

MiddleChild: I’m definitely loving the new track, “Ridin”. Like for real. What was your motivation for that record?

Mya: Just an experience that’s all. One of the moments of my life and I don’t wanna relive it again. (laughs) Just ridin’.

MiddleChild: Have you shot the video for it yet?

Mya: No we haven’t shot it. Not yet. 

MiddleChild: Alright. I’m waiting on it. You had several songs to leak last year like “For One Night” and “I Am”. Are those going to be on the album?

Mya: “I Am” is on the album. “For One Night” was just a vibe song that leaked. I don’t know how it leaked, but it’s not on the album.

MiddleChild: Ok. Well now that you have several albums under your belt, what would you consider your favorite song from each?

Mya: (laughs) That’s a hard question to answer. That’s really really hard. But I definitely have to tell you about this song I did this year called “Life Is Too Short”. I can listen to that song all day, every day. It was done by Bryan Michael Cox. 

MiddleChild: I want to hear it. (laughs) Well my top five from you would be. “If You Were Mine” from the first album. “For The First Time” from your sophomore.

Mya: (laughs) Oh yea.

MiddleChild: Definitely “Anatomy 10n1” and “Taste This” from “Moodring”.

Mya: Oh you like that slow music!

MiddleChild: (laughs) and “Why Should I Believe You” from the “Life” Soundtrack. Those are my joints.

Mya: Thank You!

MiddleChild: I know you’re very edgy and like to think outside the box and push the envelope or whatnot, so who would you like to collaborate with outside the world of R&B and Rap?

Mya: I would like to collaborate with Slip Knot.

MiddleChild: Ok. Slip Knot… wow!

Mya: I would. I really would. Their band. Not necessarily lyrically, but they got some drummers that are incredible and I really really like them live. On the songwriters tip, I would really like to get in the studio with Lauryn Hill.

MiddleChild: That’s what’s up. I would like to see how that would turn out. There are a gang of females out right now. Basically ladies all across the world of R&B, how do you feel you stand out among the crowd?

Mya: Well, uhm, I’m releasing a ballad first so maybe that’s going to be a little different. I know everybody’s coming out with a dance song right now, so I don’t know. Maybe a ballad will stand out. 

MiddleChild: Do you feel that there is a lack of individuality right now in the R&B game?

Mya: Everybody has there own niche. I think it comes across more performing live. You really don’t get to see it in videos because everyone is made up. Everybody is taught to do a dance step. Know what I’m saying? Everyone is different in their own right, but when you’re performing live that’s when the difference is clearly seen. 

MiddleChild: Well I checked you out in April on the Seagrams Gin Tour and your show was kind of bitter sweet for me because I was suppose to go see it with one of my best friends, Carmen. She had got sick like a week before and actually passed the day of the show.

Mya: What happened the day of the show?

MiddleChild: She passed the day of the show.

Mya: What?!

MiddleChild: Yea. She always used to talk about how she loved your song "Sophisticated Lady" and I just wanted to show her some love. So I wanted to ask you what song you wanted to be remembered for?

Mya: "After The Rain" is one of my favorites and it actually talks about losing a friend close to you. I really really love that song cause I know how it feels to lose someone that you love. I wrote that song with my friend Teron Beal. A real experience and it's a timeless song. I can listen to that song anytime and really appreciate it and the meaning of it. It's a substance record, so that's one of the songs I'd like to be remembered by. 

MiddleChild: That is a nice song. I like that one too. We don’t see you hanging out with too many industry people. Who would you say were your “industry friends”?

Mya: Oh I mean I hang out. It’s more about schedules being crazy, but I’m cool with everybody. I don’t have any drama with any females. Like if we’re in the same state we may hang out in the clubs. I have people I’m really tight with, you know, but I’m busy and their busy so it’s really kind of hard.

MiddleChild: Not that I asked that because of possible drama, but someone on my board made mention of it and I was like “Yea, that’s a good question” and figured I would ask. I also notice you have a habit of working with people before they really take off. For instance Sean Paul, Robin Thicke and Beenie Man. Since you never do a gang of collaborations, how do you go about picking the right people to do work with?

Mya: Well you never know. You just get with them and experiment and it’s based on vibe when you guys work together. So working is what it boils down to at the end of the day. When people are serious or don’t wanna take control and everything and let you do you as an artist and still compliment you and guide you. It’s not about attitudes or ego (laughs), those are the people I like working with. I’m still trying to develop new relationships with new new people. I just go in and experiment because you never know who the right person is. It’s usually the relationships I keep and go in with. 

MiddleChild: Well we’re excited and waiting on this album so I want to wish you good luck with “Ridin” because it’s the truth and males and females can relate to this.

Mya: Thank you. Yall can relate too. Yall know yall be ridin’. (laughs)

MiddleChild: We be on that creep.

Mya: I know. Where are you from? You sound like you’re from the south. 

MiddleChild: I’m definitely from the south. (laughs) I’m from Alabama.

Mya: Oh yea.

MiddleChild: Can you tell? (laughs)

Mya: (laughs) I loved Alabama when I came there. I hung out at the club after the show.

MiddleChild: That southern hospitality. You plan on touring this fall?

Mya: Yes!

MiddleChild: What three people would you love to tour with if you had your wish?

Mya: Whew! Prince number one. I love Floetry. And the third one (laughs) let me think about that one. I have to think about the third one. Ludacris! It’ll be Ludacris.

MiddleChild: Luda! There was a rumor that you were hitting the road with Prince.

Mya: That’s suppose to go down in the UK next month.

MiddleChild: Cool. Well we’re checking for “Liberation” this fall. My girl, Mya. (laughs)

Mya: Awww. Thank you.

MiddleChild: And we definitely represent for you over at MiddleChild Promotions. You got a gang of fans on the messageboard also that wish you all the best. So they going to rep for you too.

Mya: I appreciate that.

MiddleChild: So you have a great day and we’ll be in touch.

Mya: Okay. You too.