TAMIA l PRESS RELEASE

TAKING FLIGHT

ESSENCE l September 2000

Hers was the voice that made Quincy Jones's "Put a Move on My Heart" a hit single. And after debuting at a glitzy Hollywood reception in 1995 with the legendary producer, Canadian-born songstress Tamia--who wasn't even 20 years old--seemed firmly positioned to be music's next big thing. But then, silence.

In spite of the success of that Grammy-nominated single, it took nearly three years for her first album to hit the stores. By that time, many of the singer's fans had simply moved on. "I wasn't real happy about what happened with my last record." she says. "Other people were in charge of my music, my image--everything--which left little space for me."

A lot has changed since then. Tamia has left Jones's Qwest Records and signed with Elektra in 1999--the same year she wed NBA all-star Grant Hill. Her new album, slated for release next month, showcases her edgier side with streetwise tracks produced by hitmakers like Missy Elliott and Dallas Austin. "I'm not interested in being a cold and remote princess," she says, referring to the squeaky-clean image that stifled her on her freshman effort. "I want this record to show the real me--someone who is pretty cool and down-to-earth. I'm just an everyday girl. I don't wake Lip wearing lip gloss and Dolce."