TAMIKA WILLIAMS-CLARK

Interview 10 March 2002

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Tamika Tamika's Website

Starting at the beginning tell us about yourself - where you from, you're background.  You were born in Oakland California right?  For the benefit of us in the UK where's San Leandro.

I am from Oakland. I was born and raised there. I currently live in San Leandro -a suburb of Oakland. I actually live about 5 blocks from the Oakland Border. I love living in the San Francisco Bay Area because of the diversity.

What else do you do besides singing - when did you realise singing was going to be you're chosen path.

I have a career based in the business world but I only work there to support my music. My passion is singing and songwriting. I write almost daily whether it is a song or a poem. I don't really consider myself a poet because all of my poems end up turning into songs (ha,ha). I also read a lot of books.

I struggled for many years with my desire to be a professional vocalist. I didn't begin to actively pursue this dream until a little while ago.
You're path was only decided on late on wasn't it.  What were you intending to do?

I actually hid from a career in music. I realized that I could sing when I was about 6 years old but I didn't really tell anybody. I always wanted to be a performer but I kept it to myself. I didn't even tell my family about my talent or my dreams. I did other types of performing instead. I figured that I would just go to college, graduate, and work a regular job for the rest of my life. I had plans to pursue a Doctorate in Education. When I got to college, I finally begin to display my talent to others. In college, I did performances at small events, but again, I was not actively pursuing a professional career in music.

After graduating from college, I moved back to the Bay Area and began working a corporate job. I was not happy there. I had no passion for my job. It was a decent job and I was making good money, but I was not motivated there. It was there that I made the decision to pursue a career in music.

What did you listen to growing up?

I have two older sisters. My younger brother and I listened to whatever they listened to.

I love music from the 70's and 80's. I remember listening to Teena Marie, Rick James, Phyllis Hyman, Angela Bofill, and Chaka Khan. When I was in my early teens, I would listen to Anita Baker, Prince, Will Downing, Michael Jackson, Mikki Howard, and Regina Belle. All of them had that special something that professional artists are supposed to have. I didn't get into Brian McKnight, Stevie Wonder, Nancy Wilson, and Rachelle Ferrelle until I got into college.

As for the preparation for now tell me about the workshops you attended. You've gained extensive vocal training - is that still continuing?  Do you teach as well?

I love learning. I study because I want to be better tomorrow than I am today. Whenever I get the chance to attend a workshop I do. Most of the workshops I attend are Jazz performance workshops designed to help singers become better story tellers. Some of the instructors, like Jazz Vocalist-Madeline Eastman, are great at that. She was one of the first people who encouraged me to passionately pursue a career in music. I have learned so much from her.

I still study vocal technique. I want my instrument (my voice) to always been in the best possible shape it can be in. I have been with my current teacher Cary Sheldon for a while now. I love working with her because she challenges me. Cary encourages me to the best singer/songwriter I can possibly be.

I don't teach now but one day I will. I feel it is my duty to give back all of the things I have learned. I would like to teach about understanding the music business because that is an area where I believe most singer/songwriters falter the most. I would love to help people understand the business so that they can make it to the next level.

You're vocal influences are...............
These are all quite complex performers vocally aren't they.

I have a ton of vocal influences. The main ones are Anita Baker, Rachelle Ferrell, Teena Marie, Phyllis Hyman, Nancy Wilson, and Will Downing. I agree that all of them are complex performers. I really like singers who can convey their feelings through songs. All of my vocal influences can do that. For example, when Anita Baker sings, I believe every single word that comes out of her mouth. Like my influences, I also want to be known for telling good stories through my interpretation songs.

Tell me about you're writing.  How do you set about it.  Do you have any writing influences.

I love writing. I write my own songs because I feel I have something to say. I want to tell the story from my perspective. I hope to write for others as well. When I write a song, I will usually have a thought about something and I will write it down. Most of the time, a melody will accompany the thought. If I keep singing the words and the melody, I know that this may be something I want to explore later.

Alanis Morissette, Faith Evans, Brian McKnight, Prince, and Stevie Wonder are all songwriters who have and continue to influence me. I like them because they explore the areas that most people are afraid to express. Alanis Morissette has a way of just getting in there putting her raw emotions down. She also has a great voice.

What kind of kick do you get when a song comes together - or is the biggest buzz in the live performance.  Different kinds of satisfaction I guess?

I get a kick out of writing songs. I love it. I wish that I could write songs all day long. For me, songwriting is the introspection after the therapy. Performance is great too because you get a chance to act out the story for the public.

'The message' is your first recording?  Tell me about it, the songs, the people you worked with especially Jimi Fischer of course. Even though there are only four cuts there's a whole lot of variety in
there, jazz, funk,mellow R'n'B - do you see a particular direction?

Yes it is. I learned so much writing and recording the material. The whole writing process was so organic, so natural. I would go into the studio and sing a song and Jimi would take out his guitar and we would compose the song together. He understood me and I understood him. I was and am very honored to have a writing relationship with Jimi. He had already worked on projects for Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Curtis Mayfield, and Tevin Campbell.

As far as my project goes, I will continue to write whatever comes out of me. I know that my songs will always be R & B because of the character of my voice. I will probably incorporate more Funk/Jazz into my music. Who knows, I might even decide do incorporate a little Rock and Gospel too!

How's it going down at home and elsewhere.  Any 'bites' from any labels. Any contact with anybody in the UK.

I am getting a lot responses from people overseas. I am very excited about that. I also have a strong word of mouth following in the United States. Everyone is very excited about the project!

Are you performing?  Do you have a band?

We are putting together a band for performance now. I am used to performing Jazz. My new performances will focus on my R & B material with a touch of Jazz, Rock, and Funk. I want to create an environment-a scene where people can come relax, dance a little, and reflect a lot.

Hey 'The message' is playing right now and that's quite a haunting hook in
there!

That is wonderful. I know that my song has that quality about it. It is actually my favorite song on the project. I think it is the relationship song that should have been written a long time ago.

Anything else you'd like to say.

Thanks for taking the time to interview me. I really appreciate it. I am very excited about the things I am learning and the people I am meeting through my music.

Good luck and thanks for your time.  Stay in touch and I'll try and lend a
hand whenever I can.  Hope to see you in the UK someday......soon.  

I will. Thank you so much for this opportunity! Please keep on doing the wonderful work you are doing in the UK.

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