Tamia

Tamia
a.k.a. Tamia Washington

TEMPTING TAMIA
With A Nu Day, Tamia Kisses Her Good-Girl Image Goodbye
In 1995, Tamia burst onto the music scene with the soaring ballad "You Put a Move on My Heart" from Quincy Jones's Grammy-nominated Q's Jook Joint. Three years later, the Canadian beauty released her solid yet underrated self-titled debut. Tamia made headlines again in 2001: Just prior to the release of her more provocative sophomore disc, A Nu Day, she wed her longtime beau, NBA All-Star Grant Hill. Yet, despite her fairy-tale beginnings, Tamia tells Barnes & Noble.com's Neo Brentacious why she's no princess.

Barnes & Noble.com: What's your favorite song from A Nu Day?

Tamia: I'm having a good time with the second single, "Stranger in My House." It has opened me up to a whole different audience. When I first heard that song, I saw melodically where I could take it. The song is full of drama and I'm a typical girl, so I like a little drama every now and then. I love it.

B&N.com: The video is really sexy. But the song is called "Stranger in My House," and you're the only one in the house.

Tamia: Well, there are clues [that someone else is in the house]. There are cufflinks and a watch. But you know what? When I read the script, I was like, "Where's the stranger?" The director was like, "I don't wanna see no guy. I just wanna see three minutes of you!" Basically it's me in sand, me in water, and me in the shower.

B&N.com: Before this disc, you had this fairy-tale princess image. How comfortable were you doing those scenes half-clothed in the water?

Tamia: [laughs] A princess!!! First of all, I always wanted it to be about the music. I never wanted it to be about T&A. I felt very comfortable with the director, Paul Hunter, whom I've worked with three times. And all three times I've been in water. I felt good even though I vetoed the bathing suit thing. My happy medium was bikini bottoms and a T-shirt. I mean [on the shoot] there were like 12 guys just standing there. And you have bright lights shining on all of the things you feel are your flaws.

B&N.com: On A Nu Day, there are a lot of love songs about heartbreak. How do those songs relate to you -- someone who is young, pretty, talented, and married to an NBA superstar?

Tamia: A lot of the things I sing about aren't happening to me at this point in my life. But I dated before I met my husband. I've been in relationships that weren't always great. I draw from those experiences. And there have been times I certainly felt like I was the stranger in the house. If you know anything about women, you know we go through our mood changes. Sometimes I even ask myself, Who the hell am I? So even though I am very much happily married, there was a time when I really felt the things I sing about.

B&N.com: How has your music changed since your first album, Tamia?

Tamia: When Tamia was released, I was 19. Now I'm 25. In the last couple years, I've changed labels and everything is about my career and my personal life. I got married and became more focused on what I'm going to do with my life. I decided it was time for me to leave Qwest Records and come to Elektra. It took me three years to put out the first album, but I finished this record in three months.

B&N.com: Were you surprised how your debut album was received in comparison to the hit song "Missing You," which you recorded with Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, and Brandy for the Set It Off soundtrack?

Tamia: It was a frustrating time for me because when I did "You Put a Move on My Heart," I was ready to put out an album. I moved from Canada to California, and I went there to sing, not sit on my butt and chill. It was very confusing to me, but it was not surprising that the first album was just kind of put out there.

B&N.com: What did you learn from that experience?

Tamia: At the end of the day it's my work out there, so if I'm not pleased with it I don't do it. It's my voice. I was heavily involved with this record -- everything from the music to how I wanted to sing it. Even right down to the name of the album. I wanted to call it A Nu Day because I really feel like it's a new chapter [in my life] and I'm turning the page. Now I'm growing into who I want to be -- not who other people want me to be.

May 4, 2001