Tasha's World
Interview 29 May 2003
Interviews Menu - Interviews
Tasha's World Website www.tashasworld.com
Hi Tasha, how are you.
Broke but happy
Tell me about the new album, how it was going down, and how it led to the relationship with Dome.
I
am delighted to be associated with Dome Records. The album was going
down well before the association with Dome, Japan was way ahead of
everyone, they signed it immediately and have been on the case since
last year. The album is on import from Japan and has been selling for
£24:95 in the UK and in Holland for 40:00. How I hooked
up with Dome Records was all down to my British Manager and
production company the Klinik
Are
you excited about having an accessible outlet in the UK.
I am very happy indeed I am actually the
first soulful artist to ever to come out of The Netherlands and it
makes me extremely proud to be part of music history.
You
call it hip soul don't you, pretty apt description? Neo, organic
what's it all mean! Where do you see yourself in all this and what or
who do you aspire to
I
see myself as a musician, whatever people want to call my music is up
to them, all I do is sing the best I can and only to music that I
love. I have a big say in the sound of my music and I am very lucky
to be associated with such a great production team who let me be who
I truly am. As to the question who do I aspire to, well I hope to
carve my own little place in this world.
How
did the album all come together, how long have were you working on it
right from the conceptual stage.
The album
was put together in two weeks. My manager is a slave driver but he
had a plan and I of course understood what he wanted to do, along
with Eddie Martin and Kenny Yeomans they just got on with it and I
wrote with happiness in my heart and before you knew it the album was
done.
Appointing Patrick
Jacobs was an important step?
It
was the most important step to get to where I am now he made the
difference to being an unknown in Holland to whatever I am now I cant
praise him enough he has been there every step of the way.
And
who did you use - are they your own musicians, do they form part of
your live band. Are you trying to build a sort of conceptual thing
around you, a little unit of people, because you talk of Tasha's
World and not just Tasha. Explain the concept.
The
reason why I am called Tashas World is because I have so many
people around me who have helped and who are helping so I believe
that this is bigger than just me even though I am a solo artist. I
mean for example Dome Records is now part of Tashas World and
so are you, why be greedy?
What
about some of the 'outside' people you used like Full Crew, how did
that work
That
was down to my production company, because of course they are all
based in London they have their own people who they trust and they of
course go back long before I came along. My manager booked my flight
and I trusted him to only introduce me to who he thought was the best
for this project. Michael Daley was great to work with and so was
Ricardo and Prince Stanley Andrews
And
your writing is strong, how do you put a song together and from what
do you draw from.
Why
thank you kind sir, I draw from life experience and people around me,
so if you dont want me to sing your life story just dont
tell it to me. I write to music as well as just a story, I think I
write like a poet but not trying to make things rhyme. If it happens
I write it.
Reaction's been pretty
good over here for a few months, when can we see you again.
I will be at the Jazz Café on the 29th
of June
What else have you done or
will be doing to promo the album.
I
perform all the time in Holland and I will be doing the North Sea
Jazz Festival on July 13th which will be fantastic it has over 1500
acts over a three day period and attracts over 60, 000 people.
Whatever the record company can think of I will do, within reason of
course.
How come it got
picked up in Japan - have you been there.
That
was down to my manager once again he sure gets around
You've
been over already, Jazz Café and so on - what was that like.
The
show at Jazz Café was a really beautiful experience for me.
The UK audience is so special, its so great to sing for people
who understand every word and every phrase Im singing. I felt
truly blessed
I hear you like to
work with, have an interaction with your audience. Tell me about your
show.
Well
as I said, I like to tell stories and I love to see peoples
reactions to those stories. I always pick out somebody from the
audience to sing to and give him/her the lead part in my story.
You
just really have to come and see it...
You've
toured quite extensively at home and you're pretty well know
there?
Yes I have toured all around the
country last year and headlined the biggest festivals. Ive also
been on numerous tv shows including
MTV twice,
so I think I am pretty well known yeah.
And the Lowlands
festival?
That was the biggest one so far,
with 120.000 people over a three day period.
It also was shown
live over the internet and on MTV. I didnt know what to expect,
because there were so many great acts performing at the same time, I
was worried if anyone would come and see me. Luckely the tent we
played in was completely packed and there were about 8.000 people
screaming and dancing. It was a lovely experience.
Who
else have you worked with along the way
I
toured with American duo Ruff Endz in Holland and Germany and I
played at the official Jill Scott after party for 2 evenings.
Jill
Scott?
Yeah it was lovely seeing her in the
crowd on the second day, having so much fun and trying to sing
along...
She waited until I was finished to give me a hug and ask
me where she could get the cd. She was surprised to hear that I was
still unsigned, but now that I am Ill make sure she gets a
copy!
You live in the Netherlands,
that's where you're from right? Tell me about your childhood and
upbringing.
Well I had a
fairly normal
upbring, grew up in a house where there was always music. I never
really liked going to school, but my dad made me, hahaha. I am very
happy I did. I knew I wanted to be a singer ever since I can
remember.
And
you're awareness to music, how did that develop, your father was a
musician - who did he play with
My father
played the bass and guitar. He played with a lot of bands, but one of
them was with a singer called Denise Jannah, who was the first
Surinamese jazz singer to get signed to the prestigious Blue
Note label.
And
who are your influences.
Every day I think
of somebody else, cause there are so many: Billie Holliday, Ella
Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Earth Wind & Fire, Quincy Jones, Curtis
Mayfield and the list goes on...
And
who out there today do you like.
I like my
kindred spirits, the artist like: Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Maxwell,
Rachell Ferelle, DAngelo, Billal etc... Of course I listen to a
lot of old tunes as well
When did you realise music was
going to be the thing for you, are you in it full time know.
I
think I always knew, but after taking a break for a couple of years
after I had my daughter, I knew I had to make music, there was simply
no other way for me to express myself. And when I started writing and
performing again it was like coming home
What
other things have you done musically
I have
played the in a musical about Billie Hollidays life( I was the
understudy for Billie) and that has really made me
grow... I have always written for other artists and sang hooks on
other peoples albums.
Thats why I am so happy now to
do my thing
And
looking forward the current album is about 18 months old! What's
happening next
Hopefully Ill be doing
a lot of touring and I am looking forward to the shows abroad! And
ofcourse I have started working on my second album!
Anything
else you'd like to say.
Of course I would
like to thank you for taking the time out to ask me these questions
and I would like to thank all the people who have seen me or who have
heard of my album for coming down or for their support. And I would
like to ask everyone who hasnt seen it to come to the Jazz Café
on the 29th, I promise I wont waste your time!!!
Thanks
for your time and good luck, hope to see you when you're here
next
Mike