by wildangels

Apparently, Amy Winehouse has decided she's not going to be doing a Bond theme after all. Figures... I thought as much with all the drama going on. By the way... is it just me, or is there something just a little creepy about her producer? There are times when he seems a bit too involved and too desperate to put the fact she's recording out there. Hopefully, her family and close friends are keeping an eye on her right now to help her recover.

And Kanye has officially entered into "shut up" territory for me. I have much sympathy for the guy over the loss of his mother and that song with Stacy Dash in the video is great, but really.... saying "don't Michael Jackson" me? His explanation almost made it seem like he sympathizes with Michael and that is not cool in my book. I don't care if that guy did Thriller back in the 80's, he really is odd. Not to mention a cheat, since he's never paid anyone back without a court forcing it. So, Kanye... bad comparison. People aren't trying to make everything he does seem weird because of who he is. They do it because well... he really does do weird stuff all the time. All those times you talked like you were the second coming and throwing hissy fits after not winning something are probably not helping your case. Just something to think about....

by wildangels

Since Mariah is releasing "Touch My Body" on Itunes today, I thought I'd talk about some of my favorite Mariah songs. "Vision of Love" is the first one that comes to mind for me. It was the first single and the first video of hers I ever saw. Let's just say that by the end of that song, I was in awe. "Love Takes Time" and "Vanishing" were favorites of mine cause they were a little more soulful. Especially "Vanishing", which had a really bluesy feel to it.

"Someday", "You Need Me" and "Prisoner" from that album are favorites because they were more uptempo and fun. What can I say? I'm a sucker for any song with some attitude in it. Plus, they were a little different from the other songs she was releasing at the time and I like variety in my music.

When Emotions came out, I fell in love with the title track almost immediately. Especially the note towards the end. I still wonder how she does that! It was also nice to see her open the album with something more fast paced and fun, since she had mainly released ballads until then. "Make It Happen" was another really great uptempo track and at the time I just loved that really inspirational message in it. She didn't lose the attitude, though, including "You're So Cold" on the CD. It starts off so slow, you think your in for another ballad until the beat picks up and takes you by surprise.

Mimi's at her best, though, with ballads. "And You Don't Remember" from Emotions is a classic for me. It's so soulful and emotional and a great song to belt out when you're not feeling so great and you just want to let it out.

"Dreamlover", the lead single from Music Box was another instant favorite. I remember dancing around my house rocking out to this one and just having a great time. It's one of those feel-good songs that just makes me smile every time I hear it. "Now That I Know" and "I've Been Thinking About You" were just really fun dance tracks I couldn't help but like. There's something about the message of the songs, too, that appeals to my nostalgic side. I mean, these songs just seemed to be made with her teen fans in mind. "Hero" is also one of my favorites because of it's inspirational message and amazing vocals. I still try and belt along to this one sometimes.

Her Daydream CD's lead single, "Fantasy", was kind of a surprise. I think that was the first time she had some hip-hop in her songs and sampled another song in one of hers. It was a great song, though, and my teenage self loved it. Meanwhile, "One Sweet Day" always makes me bawl like a baby most of the time. It makes me think of my grandmother, who was like a second mom to me. I always thought it was really interesting how she and Boyz II Men were writing pretty much the same song without realizing it until they showed what they had to eachother. I loved "Always Be My Baby" because it was such a fun song and really great to sing along to. My other favorite is "Forever", just because it reminds me of those old 50's ballads for some reason.

So, now Mariah's away from Tommy Motolla and things are really getting shaken up. "The Roof" and "Breakdown" were total shocks to me, but I loved them. From the first beats, I could tell we were gonna see a whole new Mariah.To this day, I'm not sure I like the direction these ended up leading her in, but they're great tracks. Of course, it's not a Mariah CD without some ballads and there were some good ones here. I remember loving "Outside" and "My All" the most. "Outside" even inspired a paper for a music class in college.

Rainbow's actually the last Mariah album I have. Again, not thrilled with how far she's gone in that hip/hop direction. She doesn't seem to show off her voice as much lately. Still, there were a couple here I loved. "Heartbreaker" was just lots of fun to listen to and sing along with and come on- who didn't love the dueling Mariahs video? "Against All Odds" is one of the moments on this CD where you see classic Mariah and it's one of my favorites from the 80s. Mariah's vocals seem to make it even better then it was originally. Finally, couldn't help but love "Cry Baby". Even though I tend to like the songs without such a hip/hop feel, this one still gets to me. Can't explain it, but it does. The video was great, too.

Well, there's some of my favorites from Mariah- now what about you guys? Do you like her more pop-influence songs? Is hip/hop Mariah your favorite? Let me know, it's always fun to hear what other fans think.

by wildangels

Hello, out there! As promised, here is a new feature I hope to post from time to time where I discuss the music with the one who's making it! First up is Hip Hop/R&B/Rap artist Makell Bird. We talked about his CD How to Walk on Water.

1) "Intro"
He says- Well for the intro, I wanted a totally cinematic feel. Believe it or not I got my boy Paul Johnson, who I convinced to be a voice actor to a degree. His voice was really horse that day because he was sick. I told him I was thinking about hiring a voice actor to do a movie trailer like intro for the CD. He said he could do that. I said PROVE IT... he sounded just like the dude. So, I instantly recorded him saying the intro plus about a dozen other sweepers for my upcoming projects. And as far as the music itself. I found it fitted perfectly.

I say-This was a nice intro with some cool sounds in it. I also liked how the end of it bleeds into the next song. It reminds me of how the second disc of Christina's Back to Basics begins.

2) "Get It Poppin'"
He says- Well Get it Poppin was always intended to be the Intro track. But since I wanted to put the "cinematic intro" on there. "Get It Poppin" got moved to track 2. It's basically a re-introduction to me as an artist from a more "Vegas" perspective, but it still had that gritty "Dirty South" vibe. So it was perfect!

I say- This track really lives up to its name, making you want to get up and move when you hear it. I really love the violin in the background, too.

3) "Tha Matrix (Freestyle)"
He says- Well I got that beat from a producer named Bigg T. He sample some music from the movie "The Matrix"... As soon as I heard the beat I recognized it. The Matrix is one of my favorite movies. As soon as I heard it I had that feeling that "I could take over the world with this beat"! So, I wanted to talk rap slower on that beat so people could here EVERY word I was saying. So, I dropped it and there you have it!

I say- I love the beat in this song- it's fun, light and is something I can hear being played in any club. I also love the sample included. The modern, uptempo beat mixed with the operatic, dramatic vocals makes for a nice contrast.

4) "Everywhere We Go"
He says- It had a banging beat. So, I dropped it. I was choppin' it up on myspace with an artist I felt had some real talent (Young R). So, I did my part then tossed it him and he dropped some heat on it. Young R won the ATL Record Pool shortly after doing that track with me. Then I put the Rocky Quote on there to give it that extra punch!
I say- This wasn't one of my favorites, but it's still pretty cool and the message is nice. There's a quote added in there saying how it's not about how hard you get hit, it's about if you can get up and keep moving. You can't blame anyone else for the way your life is.

5) "Chapelle Excerpt"
He says-I always liked Dave Chappelle and when I heard him saying that I instantly said "I gotta put that on one of my albums!". It is an ode to myself and all the other ghetto ass white dudes out there. Me originally being from Atlanta I instantly agreed with his opinion haha.

I say- This is a cute little interlude that keeps things very light hearted and offers a bit of a break.

6)  "Find Me Somebody"-
He says- That was just a crazy beat to me. So, I figured I would just Wild out to it. I wanted to this whole "up and down" bouncy voice motif to it. My girlfriend heard it and said I was crazy haha!

I say- This is my absolute favorite track. I love the rythm of the vocals and the beat. Add a little Queen into the mix and I'm a very happy person.

7) "U Can't Be Me"
He says- Well, that was baically like from me to people in 'the industry'. I figured alotta people who are famous or own Huge major labels. Their fame and money comes with alotta strings attached. So, in a sense I bet there's a part of them that wants to be like me (i.e. more independent). But "U Can't B Me!". Originally I was planning on doing the whole song myself. But my voice alone sounded too plain on the track. So, I brought in Natika to spice things up. She's a pretty good rapper too.
I say- I like how this one starts with just a little piano and then in comes the beat. Natika and Makell blend nicely vocally in the song.

8) "Bedtime Stories" (this actually has two other parts later on).
He says- Well, my boy Paul Johnson has some CRAZY stories! And they're all true!. I mean I first heard those stories like 2 years ago and he had me rollin'. I always like to have some comedy on my album so people get a full range of emotions when they hear my music. I thought it would be funny to get him to tell those stories on the album. We were there the whole time recording him. If you listen closely you can hear us laughing in the background.

I say-Paul Johnson has a very commanding voice, demanding your attention and he definitely can tell a story. Btw, yes I did hear the laughter in the background!

9) "I'm an ATLien"
He says- That was just for all those people from Atlanta who love Atlanta and loved Outkast's whole ATLien vibe. In our eyes, that was their best album. So, I just wanted to recapture that vibe and give a view of Atlanta to anyone with an outside perspective.
I say-This one has a cool futuristic sound that definitely fits the title.

10) "Can't C Me (Freestyle)"
He says-I've loved 2Pac since 1995. That was one of his hardest beats. So I dropped it in my version.
I say- The sound has a strong, energetic beat that fits the message of the song well.

11) "Put Ya Money Up (Freestyle)"
He says-Well, me living in Vegas, I wanted to have a casino sounding song. Like a gambling song. So, that beat was perfect and I could just have fun with it. I didn't know any info about the beat so I actually had to contact 4-Ize himself to get the credits haha!
I say- This sort of reminds me of some of the stuff the new hot producers do beat-wise. I like the vocal effects and rhythm of the vocals in this one.

12) "Have Some Fun"
He says- Well, I've been working with DJ Taz since 2000. I worked on his mixtape "Classic: The Black Mongoose" and wrapped that up in October 2007. So, he threw me the track and I dropped it. DJ Taz is one of the best producers out there.
I say- This song has a little bit of a harder beat to it then the others, while still having a bit of a laid-back feel to it that's fun to listen to.

13) "Bedtime Stories 2"
More adventures of Paul Johnson

14) "Simple Shit (Freestyle)"
He says- I made a really simple sounding "snap music" beat. So, I figured I figured I'd drop a "simple" freestyle over it. And I didn't have a title for it, so, I just called it "Simple Shit" haha.
I say- This is one of the more unique freestyles on the CD. The vocals almost remind me of Twista, cause of their speed and phrasing.

15) "4eva and Always"
He says-That was originally intended to be on Natika's forthcoming album. Natika is a singer here in Vegas that I signed to ADE. But at the time, I had more tracks done towards my project. So, I did a quick verse over it and decided to put it on my album.
I say- This song reminds me of one of those old-school R&B tracks from the early to mid 90s.

16) "Training Day Excerpt"
He says-That's just a quote from Denzel Washington I felt fit for this album, on the serious side.
I say- Another quote interlude about looking at things realistically and taking your time. The quote says you have to make changes to yourself sometimes before you can change anything else.

17) "Void in My Life (Freestyle)"
He says- That's probably my favorite track. It's just a short glimpse of my life in this music business and the struggle between someon's faith and their job.
I say- This is probably one of the most emotional songs on the CD and I love the melody and phrasing.

18)  "Living in the Projects (Freestyle)"
He says-That's basically an uplifting track for all those people who get tired of watching "MTV Cribs" and seeing all these other people who are basically holding up a mirror and saying "See, were doing much better than you".
I say- This is another slow number that reminds me of 90's style R&B mixed with a more modern beat and phrasing.

19) "Ghetto Queen (Freestyle)"
He says- That's basically me in pure story telling mode. It's about young women who chose to be sexually active and the pitfalls of that. It's kind of like the song "Verge Uv Ambition" from my previous album "Birth Uv Destruction".
I say-This is another more laid-back song that I enjoyed a lot. Once again, he manages to mix a little of the old with a little new.

20) "Rev. Hagler Speech Excerpt"
He says- I actually got that off youtube. I was looking for an inspirational speech to coincide with the serious side of my album. I was originally looking for some Martin Luther King or Malcolm X type of speech, but I came across that and thought it was perfect.
I say- This is a stirring speech that adds a bit of a break in the action

21)  "Will You Remember Me?"
He says- I'm not really a big fan of country music. But, I DO know that alot of them have pretty good lyrics. I heard that beat with that Sarah McLachlan hook and thought it would be a nice touch to the album. It's probably the most uplifting message on my whole album.
I say-I love the original song and it's cool that he chose this. The song has a nice, relaxed feel to it while still being good for a little dancing.

22) "Bedtime Stories 3" Another really funny yet true moment from Paul Johnson's life.
 
23) "My Problem (Jealousy- Freestyle)"
He says- Alot of the lyrics in the song I hold true because I actually DID know some people who said they weren't interested in working with me. Then later I found out it was mainly just because I was white! So, I thought I would do a track to project my views on such simple minded shit like racism and jealousy.
I say-This is one of the deeper songs on the album and has a nice, soft feel to it.

24) "Go Back (Freestyle)"
He says- That's like a reminiscent track. A song that gives a little bit more into my background.
I say- I like the background singer and the effects on her vocals in this one. This is a nice track to sit back and relax with.

25)  "Outro"
He says- Usually I just talk on my outros and give people information on how to obtain more music from me or contact me.
I say- Makell hooks fans up in this one by telling them how they can get his music and contact him.

So there, you have it. Makell Bird's How to Walk on Water. Check out his MySpace to hear some songs and get his music. He just released a mixtape yesterday called Makell Bird Presents Maktown Radio Vol. 1: The Spityogame Takover (Co-hosted by DJ Taz). Check back here another time when I post some lyrics and a song or two. Til then, take care and "let the music play."

by wildangels

According to Billboard, a special mini-edition of Kelly Rowland's Ms. Kelly is gonna be released. As a music fan, I like the idea of these re-releases just cause I like extra material like music videos and extra tracks. As a music consumer? Well, let's just say I don't often buy CDs anymore when they first come out. I waited ages to get Pink's I'm Not Dead just because I don't really feel like buying a CD twice just to get the few extras.

The industry could probably do a lot to improve their relationship with consumers if they came up with a way for consumers who already bought the CD when it came out originally to download the extras for free/a very small charge. Many CDs today have little papers included telling you how to get ringtones or other special deals. Maybe they could include a paper with a special promo code in the initial 1 or 2 shipments of the CD that will allow them to download these extras if/when a re-release is done.

I know this may not be a perfect plan, but I do think music fans would really appreciate something like this. The label system seriously needs the PR right now. Who knows, it might even boost sales a bit, especially early on.

by wildangels

First, Janet releases an album that goes to #1. Then, Mariah comes out with a new single that's a hit with an album coming soon. Now, Whitney's getting into the act. According to Billboard, we can expect to hear new music from her before the end of the year.

I've always loved her voice, so I'm glad she's going to give her career some attention again instead of making tabloid headlines. The only question is, can the music transcend all the craziness of the past few years? I'm rooting for her.

by wildangels

Well, the Grammys are over and here is a listing of some of the winners. For a full list, check here.

Record Of The Year Amy Winehouse, "Rehab"

Album Of The Year Herbie Hancock, River: The Joni Letters

Song of the Year "Rehab", Amy Winehouse

Best New Artist Amy Winhouse (anyone sensing a trend here?)

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Amy Winehouse, "Rehab" (See what I'm saying?)

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Justin Timberlake, "What Goes Around Comes Around"

Best Pop Vocal Album Amy Winehouse, Back to Black

Best Female Solo R&B Performance "No One", Alicia Keys

For quite a few of these (Amy's awards) I might have gone another direction. I like her voice and all, but I don't know if her CD deserved all that over everyone else nominated. Especially Fergie's song. It's a personal favorite of mine. For some of the Country info, check out my other blog. As for the show, I was surprised how much I enjoyed the performance Beyonce did with Tina Turner. Alicia Keys was pretty good at the beginning as well. Fergie's performance was nice, but I was kind of distracted by the outfit she was wearing. Whose idea was that, anyway? If there was one big disappointment for me, it would be Jennifer Pena not winning for "Dicen...".She's a favorite of mine and that was a great disc. Ah well. Maybe nexy year...

by wildangels

It’s no secret I love music. It’s an amazing artistic medium and a great way to express yourself. It can also be pretty therapeutic. There’s one more thing I love about it... it’s power to bring back a moment in time so clearly just by hearing it. I have many songs that can remind me of certain events and one of them is, kind of embarrassingly, Richard Marx.

It was the late 80's and his hit "Right Here Waiting" was just released and blowing up. At the same time, I was traveling with a family member to visit some friends out of state. If you know me, you know I don’t even go a ten minute car ride without a radio or tape playing and this was definitely no exception. Not far into the trip, however, I was ready to toss the radio right out of that car.

When I say "Right Here Waiting" exploded, I am not kidding. After hearing it about 20 times pretty close together, we got tired of it and tried to find something else. No matter what station we put it on or what time, that song was playing. We’d change the station to get away from it, only to hear it starting somewhere else. Change it again, and we’d find the song starting again or part way through it. Finally, we gave up on the whole thing and I got out some of my tapes to listen to. To this day, if that song comes on the radio I think about that trip. I remember playing with the other kids and making up dance routines together.... getting to visit the Ripley’s Museum and the Fountain of Youth.... even swinging off a tire in their front yard and how big the property was. All of this, I remember in vivid detail, like it’s happening right now.

That’s the real power of music.

by wildangels

I've read on some forums that Pink is getting ready to start writing a new album. After listening to M!ssundastood and I'm Not Dead recently,  I'm psyched. I think she's one of the more talented vocalists and writers out there. Now, if she'd just cut ties with PETA....

Don't forget, I still want to hear your favorite songs. Do you agree with my choices? Do I need my head examined for picking a certain song? Let me know! I'd also love to hear what your favorite of her CDs is. Til later... take care and "let the music play!"

by wildangels

I've been listening to P!nk's I'm Not Dead a lot lately. She's one of my favorite singers/writers and I though because of all that, I'd rank my favorites from all her CDs.

10- "Split Personality" from the CD Can't Take Me Home. There is just something about this song that gets me and it's hard to describe. I just know that anytime I pop that CD in, this is the song I want to put on.

9- "Stop Falling" from the CD Can't Take Me Home. This is the other song I listen to a lot off that CD. This song is all about Pink's vocals. She manages to put so much pain into each line... you really believe what she's saying.

8- "Catch Me While I'm Sleeping" from Try This. This is not my favorite CD by pink, but I love this one. She's got a great vocal on here.

7- "Misery" from Missundastood. She and Steven Tyler sound great together and I love the old bluesy vibe to this one.

6- "Stupid Girls" from I'm Not Dead. This is just a funny song and I agree with almost every word in the lyrics.

5- "Family Portrait" from Missundastood. I love the lyrics to this song and the pain she manages to get across in it. Anyone who has gone through family issues can relate to this one perfectly.

4- "Just Like a Pill" from Missundastood. While I like the vocals in this song, the lyrics are what really make it for me. They're clever and honest and you just feel every word she sings.

3- "Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)" from I'm Not Dead. Who hasn't wanted to be left alone once in awhile, even if you do really care about a person? It's such a relatable song and I like the contrast of the fun, upbeat music with the slightly dark lyrics.

2- "Heart Breaker" from I'm Not Dead. I love this one because it shows that P!nk can rock with the best of them. Again, her delivery and words are perfect and I can't help but get lost in the emotion of the song.

1- "Who Knew" from I'm Not Dead. Emotional does not even begin to describe this song. I feel every word each time I hear it and have occasionally gotten a little teary with it. It's a song about appreciating who you have now and how that's not always easy to do. You get caught up in every day stuff and take some things from granted.

Well, there it is: my favorite P!nk songs. Do you agree? Think I'm crazy? Let me know about it!! Feel free to post your own favorites in the comments.

by wildangels

Here is the last part of my interview with Ieshia. In it, she discusses her upcoming CD and her plans for the future. I hope you've all enjoyed this series.

Jamie: Tell me about your Album.

Ieshia: My album is due for a 2008 release, hopefully before my birthday, which is May 2. It will be titled Still Standing because despite of everything I've been through, I'm still standing. The album will actaully be a cool transition story within itself. It takes me from a good relationship to a bad relationship and when I let go of that bad relationship, I find happiness. It’s time to celebrate, dance, rejoice and help others

Jamie: What else are you working on?

Ieshia: This year, I plan on releasing my first book entitled GIGSTER which is a book especially for artists with club listings and diffrent venues for them to perform. To perform at these clubs, most are required to present something for consideration. That's what i'm doing with my book. I'm doing the work for them and letting them know what each club or venue in each state is requires an artist to present to them in order to perform. Hopefully, My gigster book will turn into a Gigster Transportation Service for singers. Most singers have great talent but there talent is hidden due to finances or not being able to get to gigs due to a lack of transportation. Eventually, Gigster will spin off from a book to a transportation service with a low monthly fee that drops off and picks up a singer , raper, poet to casting calls and performances. Each year, a top artist will be picked for a promo tour. I'm looking for gigster to also have a special fund where each artist get there own marketing package, including demo recording, photo shoot, media kit & more, everything an artist needs to live their dream. Then, a non profit organization called Verity Envision, which keeps teens off the street and in the classroom, doing productive things! There will be GED and educational programs designed to help people reach their goals in life, all while offering a limited amount of financial assistance for rental and utilities through donations.

Jamie: Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. This has been really interesting.

Ieshia: You’re welcome!

by wildangels

My interview with Ieshia continues as she discusses getting signed and the event that brought her career to a stand still...

Jamie: Tell me about your deal with Pimptown. How did that come about?

Ieshia: I was looking through a newspaper ad that was looking for singers, rappers etc. it said to call for an audition. I called him and he loved my voice. A few weeks later my grandmother signed me to a recording contract with his company. One month later I had my first performance, when I opened a concert for his top artist. We got married March 16th 2003. We had our first child May 22, 2003 and our daughter was born August 5th 2004.

Jamie: In your information, you mentioned Hurricane Katrina pretty much forced you to go back to the beginning career wise. Can you elaborate on that and tell me about what you experienced during the storm?

Ieshia: My career was starting to take off with gigs, tours and more lined up by my celebrity booking agent Lionel Robinson. We'd just brought a car and a house when the storm was coming. My husband had been through many storms, and this was my first. We talked it over and decided to get out of the city. Even though we'd just brought a car, we didn't have enough gas or the money to buy the gas to get out, so we stuck the storm out. I was so terrified, I scared myself to sleep. When I woke up, I went in the other room and said, "Wow, that storm wasn't so bad after all." My husband said "look outside". I looked outside and there it was: Hurricane Katrina. I ran back under the covers like Shag and Scooby! When the storm was over, everyone was getting ready to make and eat breakfast when all of a sudden water started to come in the front door. We couldn’t stop it from coming in, so we grabbed our kids and belongings and ran upstairs. We were stranded on the second floor with no food for 3 days. We flashed the lights in the sky when helicopters passed by, but noone would save us.

Jamie: How did you finally get rescued?

Ieshia: Luckily, there was a neighbor that lived in the subdivision that owned a boat. Come to find out he was going around rescuing. his neighbors. We let him take the another family in his boat first, but when he came back to us we didn't want to leave each other. We couldn't my husband is 300 plus pounds, plus it was myself our two kids, his sister and her two sons. We all couldn't fit into the little boat, so he went and found some more help. When he returned, we grabbed our belongings. My kids and my husband and his sister and one of her sons got in the boat. Myself and my sister in laws other son got on the jet ski bikes. That was my first time on a jet ski; first time in the water actually.

Jamie: Can you describe the ride for me?

Ieshia: When we were riding through it was as riding in a murky lake; river for that matter. The water was so deep If I would have stepped in it I would have drowned. My husband is 6'3 and when he went to go and save the other family I mentioned earlier, the water was up to his chest; close to his neck. They didn't bring us far after rescuing us. The nearest dry was on Chef Menteur Highway. We found a shopping cart and put our kids inside of it and started the long journey to the convention center. Luckily, the police let us get some food & drink out of stores to give us the strength to keep walking. As we walked, guns were pointed at us and my children were crying hysterically. My husband passed out from dehydration because he would go into the stores and get food and drink for us and not himself, because there wasn't enough. He recovered, though. The original plan was to go to our house (they stayed with her sister-in-law during the storm) but when we looked down coming of the exit, our house and our entre area was under water to the roof tops. It was a good things we went by my sister's house because we would not have made it otherwise.

Eventually, Ieshia and her family made it to the Convention Center, where even more drama was to unfold. They were forced to deal with death, violence and people who were trying to profit off the evacuees situation. They also had to endure family members who were less than accommodating to them once they were able to reach Grambling. Ieshia and her husband managed to find jobs so that they could get a place of their own again. Ieshia’s job actually involved distributing various supplies to other victims of the storm. Join me next time for another part of my interview with Ieshia. Til then, "let the music play..."

by wildangels

Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with an up and coming artist named Ieshia. She’s been making quite a name for herself through her MySpace page and is about to release her first single, "Still Standing." If you consider her background, there was no other song that could be the first release. I spoke with her via IM about some of the struggles she’s dealt with, her music and other plans for the future. This first part deals with her childhood.

Jamie: First off... tell me a little bit about your mother and the effect she had on your singing.

Ieshia: My Mother was an angel... Although by being so young when she died I don't remeber much! I do remember her love for Jesus and her passion for singing. She was in her early to mid 30's when she had me, and her pregnancy was high risk. She didn't abort me because that's not what she believed in. She wanted a child, most of all a daughter, that could carry on her singing dream if she was to pass.

Jamie: You mentioned in your information that your grandmother raised you after your mother’s death when you were 7. Can you tell me about her and the relationship you two had?

Ieshia: Oh, my grandmother and I was inseparable! It was hard because she was raising me, but I had to take care of her. Not long after my mom died, my grandmother's Sugar Diabetes and High Blood Pressure started to kick in and she started getting sicker and sicker. I had very little time to pursue my singing career due to having to take care of my grandmother. The relationship that my grandmother and I had was one where if I'd go to a burger place and had only enough money for one burger, I would buy that one burger and save half for her. I spent 1 year at Touro Hospital with my grandmother. I would never leave her side. All of the nurses knew me and especially the Cafeteria workers, with all the bacon I would order for breakfast. The whole second floor of Touro Hospital adopted me. I'd get special treatment with the vcr's and more food. They also put a special bed in my grandmother's private room just for me with extra pillows

Jamie: That was nice of them to do that for you. How old were you during all this?

Ieshia: I was 16. At this point I was tossed from family member to family member. A long time ago my grandmother told me she never wanted to be in a home, and I vowed to keep that promise. She was put on a breathing machine and was not expected to live through the night. I went home and prayed and asked God to touch my grandmother. I begged God like i'd never before not to let her leave me and he answered. The next day, she was sitting up eating. I asked the doctor what happened and he said she pulled the breathing tube out of her mouth herself. She always told me she never wanted those things and she'd rather died than be on the machine.

Despite being a double amputee and suffering from various health problems related to diabetes, her grandmother recovered from the experience and was allowed to return home when Ieshia was 17, provided they could provide round the clock care for her. Eventually, Ieshia was able to find someone to care for her grandmother while in school. Then, the would-be singer was delivered another blow...

Ieshia: She had to return again to the hospital. At this point, she started to get alzheimers. Yet again, I stayed by her side. A week later my grandmother died. She tried to fight back to stay with me. At times she would grab my shirt and try to mumble a W word, but with the breathing tube it made it hard to talk. I stayed at the hospital, but I had more senior exit exams so my nanny to me to go home and get sleep. 6:30 that next morning, my nanny woke me up and told me my grandmother had passed away. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye.

Check back tomorrow, when Ieshia discusses getting signed to a deal, her early successes and the event that changed everything...