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What was the inspiration for the song 'Contemporary Girl'?

"I love that song and I thank God for it. It came from day to day instances of witnessing women treat men a certain way, seeing couples argue in public and the woman strong-arming the man. The song is a bit bold, but the lyrics show exactly how I feel. I'm sure other women have witnessed what I'm singing about in the song and feel the same way, but because of peer pressure they don't say anything. I'm not a feminist and I make no apologies for that. There were times when I was working on the song that I'd just start laughing because of how funny the lyrics are. It hard to sing it with a straight face sometimes. I sing and rap on the song. There's the original version and the rap remix. I enjoy different styles of music, so I decided to do both."  

What would you like to accomplish with this CD?

"My objective was to make a record that can change people's lives. Not to make a record about nothing. Some records will make you feel worst than when you started listening to them. There are a few records that have changed my life and I would love to do that for someone else. It's just a great way to reach people."   

Were you nervous about putting out your first single?  

"No, I wasn't nervous. I just had a lot to think about. My family and friends didn't know I was working on a record for myself. They knew I was a writer but they just figured it was for other performers. I didn't tell them until right before it was finished. They were like all this time you could sing and you didn't tell us. Only a few people knew I could sing, but the majority didn't. I wasn't one of those people that grabbed the mic every opportunity that presented itself. There have been talent shows and programs where they needed a singer or instrumentalist and I didn't volunteer. Several times people have said to me 'you know, you look like you can sing... sing something' and I'd just laugh and not say anything. I don't like being the center of attention. I'm not a stage person either, but I love the studio. I'm not insecure, but I don't love the spotlight. I'm just used to being an audience member, so this is a bit of a change. Strange business to be in with such a disposition, but I believe God blessed me with the voice to do this, so it's something I feel I have to do."   

What was it like recording the album?

"I had a wonderful time. I set up a home studio. It's my favorite room in the house. For a while, it seemed like I was at the recording studio store every few days. Technologically, the studio is not the most advanced, but it has all my favorite stuff in there. It's not about having the best gear anyway. I compensated for lack of multi million dollar equipment by using computer applications I was familiar with to pick up the slack. The most important thing is your taste in music by way of the sounds you generate, the microphone, your computer's speed and memory and a decent sound card to capture it all. I only purchased a couple new things. The project was very inexpensive. I played the instruments into the computer and or added sound files I made to each song. Then I mixed and mastered it using computer software. Thankfully, the electronics and software share the same basic principles which made it easier. My dad once told me once you've learned one machine you've learned all of them because they are basically the same. I'm also one of those people that don't like reading manuals or taking tutorials though it is a good idea. I test different features and use common sense to figure it out. It's funny and a bit pathetic when you record a piece then do tacky dances during playback that you wouldn't dare do publicly for fear of embarrassment and just basically hope no one's watching."   

What was the strangest thing that happened in the studio?

"On one occasion I did have a bit of trouble. Everything was going smoothly until right before the final mix of Contemporary Girl. I was excited and looking forward to mixing and mastering it. I was really eager to hear the finished product. Then an error message that I'd never seen before appeared on the computer screen. I've been using computers for years and I thought I knew all the error messages until I saw this one. The file became corrupt and I only had it saved in that one place. I used to back up songs in two places but I stopped because it was annoying and I didn't have any problems thus far. Surprisingly, I was pretty calm when I should have been livid. I called the computer manufacturer and the software manufacturer and neither claimed responsibility or knew how to fix the problem. I tried to salvage it, but I only retrieved pieces of the file and with digital recording you don't want to be lax because it's so precise any impurity will show up. Thank God that one night when I was up recording until 4 am and was very sleepy, I accidentally saved the song on a disc with the CD photos instead of where I usually save it. I was starting to fall asleep but subconsciously I knew that I saved it there. I was just too tired to erase it from the photo disc and didn't bother to the next day. I went to look at the photographs for the CD and there was the song on the photo disc. I was so grateful to God. With all the other work I had to finish, I didn't want to have to record the song and all it's parts all over again. If I had to I would have, but emotionally I wasn't up for it."   

Do you believe in God?

"Yes, I'm a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ. God has given me the ability to do what I love and I'm very thankful to Him for everything."   

What were you like growing up?  

"I was quiet and very shy. I was very friendly and always tried to help people. I was raised an only child so I basically kept to myself. I spent a lot of time in my room writing. I love to write. I think it compensated for me being introverted. I'd learned so much and went through so many things that writing became a great outlet to express what I was feeling. I spent a lot of time at the library. I loved going there to research. I'd check out 20 books at a time. I was never into parties. People would invite me, but I didn't go to most, only to friends birthday parties. I didn't go to clubs either. It didn't appeal to me. I preferred going to the movies, concerts or restaurants with my family."  

What was it like growing up in South Florida?

"Florida is a lovely state. Floridians are sweet people. It was great growing up there. There are so many nationalities there and it gave me a wonderful opportunity to learn about other cultures. I grew up in Miami which is in South Florida. The colorful art deco architecture, the ocean, palm trees, boats and cruise ships form a nice environment. I used to go over to Miami Beach to have dinner, look at the architecture, walk along the beach and look at the water. I've also filmed and photographed many places in Miami. I used to love going out with my cameras. I also visit and spend holidays with family and friends in Palm Beach and Jupiter. In addition to Miami these are the cities I know best. The weather is great. The winters are mild. One Christmas it's 60 degrees while another it's 90 degrees. I've never seen snow. Sad isn't it. When I visit other places, I always end up leaving before it snows and then when I get back to Miami and turn on the news, I see it snowing in the place I just left. I can't take that much irony."

What are your favorite cities?

"Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, London, Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta. I would love to live in England on a part time basis."  

What is your favorite book?

"My favorite book is the Bible. I read it everyday. I also read a lot of autobiographies, biographies, architectural books, how-to manuals and music and film related books. I don't like reading fiction."   

How do you feel about people criticizing today's vocalists?

"I would never fault a singer for lack of talent. God gave them their voice, so why be arrogant and criticize how another person sounds. However, they should be able to sing. I do think artists should also be held responsible for content though. It has nothing to do with censorship, but rather common decency. You should be careful about the messages you're sending to people especially kids. You don't want to be responsible for misdirecting them."   

How do you feel about music swapping web sites?

"Some singers support them, but I don't use them. It's not fair to the industry. I think it's theft. People use the excuse that the industry is rich anyway and CD prices are too expensive. Most records cost a lot of money to make and don't recoup their cost. You wouldn't go into an electronics store and say, I really like this stereo, but it costs too much so I'm just going to steal it. On your job, you work 40 hours a week and expect to get your pay check. How would you feel if someone turned up at your job and collected your pay check every payday. You'd be angry because that's how you earn a living. I don't see why the music industry should be considered any different. People don't look at the fact that record labels have so many records that fail and put their books into the red. These costs have to be absorbed. There are also serious expenses like staff salaries, utilities, production, manufacturing, distributing and shipping costs. Not to mention music videos. Sometimes videos cost more than the actual recorded project."   

Which artists would you like to collaborate with?

"People on the label. Outside of that, it depends. I'd have to be friends with the person and want to collaborate because I enjoy their company and think it would be fun or really agree with what they are doing musically and want to help them. Something informal. Collaborations are great only when they are for the right reasons. A project based on sentiment or out of a genuine desire to work with someone, rather than an opportunistic effort to further one's career."  

Do you prefer writing for yourself or for others?

"I prefer writing for others. I'm grateful for my album but I enjoy writing for others more. It's more fun. It's really nice when you look at someone and write something for them that you think they would sound great performing."   

What other interests do you have?

"I'm very serious about filmmaking. I feel that's something I was born to do. I love writing screenplays and treatments. I wrote my first screenplay when I was 16. My interest in filmmaking began at an early age. I started writing treatments and sketching storyboards for music videos when I was 14 and it evolved into writing scripts. It's something I really enjoy and definitely want to explore."   

What are your hobbies?

"I usually carry around my camera and camcorder. I'm also into guitar making. I'm not attached to my guitars, but I never understood singers who break them on stage. I cringe when I see that. I also love to paint."  

If you were not a singer what would you be?

"I always felt I'd do music, but not as a singer. Other than that, I would do a lot of charity work. Like a missionary or work in the church. People thought I'd be a great lawyer. I love corporate and entertainment law. I started law classes but my love for music and film won out. Most of what I know pertains to entertainment law, but I much prefer the creative side of the industry. My dad harbored dreams of me becoming the next Althea Gibson when I was a kid. He's a great athlete and played soccer professionally when he was younger. He taught me how to swim and I excelled at it so he decided to teach me how to play tennis when I was 5 years old. Big mistake! It was too hot outside and I didn't like standing in the sun sweating. I still don't. I'm always looking for the nearest air conditioned building. So from then on, whenever we went to the tennis club he let me do my favorite sport which was sitting in the covered stands, drinking juice and watching everyone else play. I believe they call it being a spectator and I was very good at it. I'd found my niche. He still has my tennis racket from when I was a kid. I called him recently and told him 'daddy, we could have been like Venus and Serena and their dad Frank.' He laughed hysterically. I was like, I wasn't that bad!"   

Do you drink or smoke?

"Neither. I never acquired a taste for alcohol. I think it tastes bad. I don't even like drinking grape juice (laughs). It tastes strong to me. Smoking is something I was never attracted to. I don't like the smell of cigarettes. My attitude is why do something that you know is going to be addictive and destructive."   

Is that your real hair?

"Yes, it is my real hair. I've been asked that question so many times since I was a kid. Sometimes people don't believe me and pull it anyway. I'll call a hair salon and they'll quote me a price and when I get there they double the price on me."  

 Do you have any nicknames?

"My parents have a few nicknames for me that I don't care to mention and I don't acknowledge these monikers publicly. If they call me those nicknames in public I just act like I don't know them or who they're talking to (laughs)."   

Do you use the Internet?

"Yes, I spend a lot of time on the net. I buy products, pay bills, post on message boards and do a lot of research on the net."  

 Are you a morning person?

"I'm very quiet in the morning. It's unusual for me to just hop out of bed in the morning and I don't remember most of what is said to me when I just wake up. I'm not mean or groggy. I just need a little time to full wake up. First I pray then I get up. I was raised in Florida so I'm used to having orange juice for breakfast. In Jamaica they still keep the British tradition of having tea and a big breakfast. That's important there. When I'm there and I ask for orange juice in the morning they look at me like you heathen! You mean you don't drink tea."   

Are you domesticated?

"I cook, clean and do laundry. Sometimes I'll use a laundry service. I'm not a neat freak, but I like things in order and where I can find them when I need them. I love architecture and interior design, but I don't like formal houses. They are nice to look at but who wants to live in a museum. A house should be a creative expression of who you are. Don't buy things that you feel will impress people. Buy what you need and what makes you feel at home. Your real friends won't care. I also fix stuff when it's broken. My mom is always telling me to call a professional, but I usually don't. I've fixed a lot of things around the house. Hey, I've never been shocked. Well, technically it didn't count because I tossed the wire before it had a chance to shock me."   

What are your favorite sports?

"I love soccer especially the English Premier League. I don't support a particular team. I just think certain soccer players are skilled athletes. I enjoy watching a good tennis match as well. I play basketball and watch it sometimes depending on who's playing. I also love swimming."  

What are your pet peeves?

"I'm not easily irritated. I'm very understanding and patient, but it is wise that you do not irritate me when I'm tired or hungry (laughs). I'm kidding. Injustice and people fighting each other are my pet peeves. Internet network congestion, turbulence and answering machines can also be a bit much sometimes."  

What are your aspirations?

"To establish each branch of the company in their respective industries and to hopefully find Mr. Right, get married and have a family."

2001

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