TIFFANY LAING

Interview 28 January 2002

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Twelve Tribes Musical Empire Tiffany Laing

There's been a bit of exposure in the UK- are you aware of that.

Tiffany: Yes I am. And i'm very grateful.

Tell me about the album, how it came about, how it was put together.

Tiffany: The Naked Truth has been in our womb for quite some time now, but God had a set season for it to be released. I was on the road with Eric Benet for 2 years and my husband was working with several other artists which kept us both quite busy. One day we looked at each other and said "now's the time"! The album was done in 2 months.

Lew produced, played and so on - tell me a bit about his background- or over to you Lew- What other work have you done, didn't you work with Helen Baylor - was that at 'Oasis' time?

Lew: No, not actually. I did some pre-production for Helen's new CD "My Everything". I've also produced for Jessie Powell, Coolio, IMX, Smooth, Gospel Gangstas and many others here in LA.

How did you two get together - I guess you work together well professionally?

Tiffany: Tell him Lew!

Lew: I was subbing for a keyboard player one night, and in walks this incredibly gorgeous woman!! Of course this happens to be the lady we were backing up that night. After hearing Tiffany do the first set of music, I went over to her and the first thing I said was "will you marry me"!!! 6 months later, my dream came true!! And yes, working with her is sooo incredible.....she's an incredible writer and vocalist. She wrote every word on the Naked Truth.

Clearly it's principally a gospel based album but there's more than a hint of Nu Soul. Picked up a bit of Angie and a bit of Erykah. Where you heading?


Tiffany: Well, i'm from New jersey so I have a jazzy background. I sang a lot of Ella, Sarah Vaughn, and Nancy Wilson in my teenage years. And I always have to bigup Philly International.....i grew up on that sound so thats basically the foundation of my style. It's always a blessing to be compared to awesome artists like Angie and Erykha. But my husband, who is a west coast native, brings the funk to my style. Now you have a east meets west neo sound.

You're getting excellent Gospel reviews - is this your principal target marketplace. That said that's where your feeling it and trying to get the message across.

Tiffany: No. I plan to be wherever the Lord opens the door.......which prayerfully is to the masses. Not just to gospel.....not even just to secular......but to anyone that has an ear to hear what the Lord says through me.

You've worked with Erykah and Eric Benet - tell us about that.

Tiffany: While doing leads and backgrounds with Eric, we toured also with Erykah Badu.....and the experience was awesome. Erykah is a sweet and lovely spirit...and her show is beautiful. Eric was very encouraging and easy to work with. We had awesome chemistry on stage.

This is not your first album is it - what have you done prior to that.

Tiffany: No its not. But its the first the world will hear! The first deal didnt go so well, and the album was never released due to an explosion at the studio!!

Tiffany: It was smooth R&B......pretty much what I am now...i've just grown a lot lyrically. How did we do it? Through the company that I was signed with at the time out of Teaneck, New Jersey.

Obviously Gospel is where you're coming from and your faith shines through - also some Rasta imagery yes?

Tiffany: Hahaha!! It's "Afrimaican"....which illuminates both sides of who I am. I'm African, and because of my husband, i'm Jamaican. We're both "locked-up" (dreads)!

Who else have you worked with - Just noticed you've worked with Maze - what were they like. I was a big fan of theirs back-a-while

Tiffany: Frankie Beverly is as awesome to me today as he was when I was a little girl. He still has the same stage presence and energy that he had 20 years ago. The list goes on of the people that I've worked with.....but to name a few, you have D'Angelo, Chaka Khan, Carl Thomas, Maysa, Earth, Wind, Fire, and Boys 2 Men.

Tell me about your songwriting

Tiffany: I write about that which i know and am assured to be true.

Are you performing live at all? Hey and when will we see you in the UK!

Tiffany: Yes, i'm performing live...doing a lot of promotion here in the U.S and we're negotiating coming to the UK really soon. We'll keep you posted.

You're an East Coast girl - tell me about your upbringing, childhood and musical influences along the way. When did you move West Coast.

Tiffany: Real quick. I'm from a small town in Bridgeton, New Jersey. I've been singing and modelling since I was four. My influences are Chaka, Phyllis Hyman, Anita Baker, and Whitney Houston. I moved to Southern California in 1996.

Tell us about the label - is it just you or are there others we could be looking out for

Tiffany: I'm the first one that you've heard from, but there are more that you'll hear from in 2002. The label is the brainchild of my husband and myself.

What do you get up to outside music. You have children - on the album right?

Tiffany: Yes, we have children!!! 5 sons believe it or not! So I wake up to little musicians and the WWF smackdown everyday!! Thats our baby Malik on the cd...he was only 13 months at that time. He created that beat all by himself so we had to include it on the album!

What's next for you?

Tiffany: The follow up album to the Naked Truth called the Return. Look for it later on this year around Summertime.

Anything else you would like to add

Tiffany: Thank you Mike and our universal family for your love and interest in "the Naked Truth". I cant wait to come show love over there. Stay in touch and much love to you. Shalom (peace).