Tiara Wiles Interview

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the musical styling of Tiara Wiles, let me tell you, she is going to be a force and you heard it here first. Tiara’s music is refreshing and electrifying. The texture of her voice is complex relaying a maturity not heard in much of today’s young female R&B artists.

During my interview with this star in the making, I got the sense she was fierce and unafraid to take on the many challenges of being a new singer in a very unpredictable music industry. We have all seen people come and go, but I feel tiara is here to stay. Matter of fact, let me let tiara explain to you why she’s going to be here to stay.

Above you can check out the new mixtape cover for This is Tiara by Tiara Wiles – the new project from Soul Rebel NY x Flawless Hustle.

So rock with us as Tiara talks about why y’all should leave Souljah Boy alone, the reasons people may think she’s a bitch and her expansion as an artist.

Flawless Hustle: Tell the readers of Flawless Hustle about yourself.

Tiara Wiles: I’m originally from Pittsburgh, PA but I live in Washington, D.C. now. I go to Howard University, I’m 23 and I’ve been singing for a long time.

FH: How long have you been singing for exactly?

TW: I’ve been singing since I was a kid, and did the whole the choir thing. but I really started trying to pursue it as a career when I was in high school. I realized it was something I wanted to do. But in Pittsburgh, there isn’t much of a music scene.

When I came to Howard, things really started to take off. I met a lot more people who were into music just as much as I was. So I guess you could say when I came to D.C. is when things really started happening.

FH: That’s cool. How would you describe your writing process?

TW: Well I keep a note book with me at all times because I’ll just come up with the most random stuff at the most random times.  Usually I’ll just sit down with different beats, and whatever I’m feeling and vibing to, I’ll start writing to. There isn’t really a set formula that I use, but I definitely write about things I’m going through or stuff people around me are going through. I just feel that more. I feel you should write from experience.

FH: What keeps you passionate and consistent in your writing? Is there any time where you don’t feel like writing and there’s something you think about that encourages you to write?

TW: I definitely get those days where I don’t feel like writing. But if I ever get into a rut or if I’m having like a brain fart, I’ll watch movies or listen to other music and that will get the sparks going in my head and that gives me more ideas and motivates me. Like when I hear other hot stuff, I’ll be like “Oh, I’ve gotta do this now.”

FH: How do your immediate world and the world outside effect you differently?

TW: Well Howard is my life. It is definitely a major part of who I am. Everything affects me – the culture, the people, going to school. I’m so over that right now (laughs). So that helps me with giving me things to write about.

And what’s going in the world inspires me too. I recently recorded a song talking about all the bullshit that’s been going on here in the United States. And a little bit of what’s going on overseas. I have people who I am close to that are very affected by the stuff that’s going on- The recession, Iraq and all that stuff. And Barack winning is definitely another motivation for me to write and too keep doing this. Plus it’s all (good) material.

FH: What are your feelings about the music industry in general in 2009?

TW: As far as the industry goes, I’m kind of freaked out about it. People are broke and aren’t buying as much music right now. I actually just read an article about the industry that bugged me out.

But as far as the artists and music that’s out, I like where it’s going. I just read an interview with Colin Munroe and he was saying that music is becoming genre free. People have a little bit of everything in their play list and iTunes. You don’t have to worry so much about what genre your make music for. Sometimes I struggled with that. Like “Am I pop, am I rhythm and blues?” But I don’t really like to put a label on anything that I do. It’s just some good music. I just want people to like it.

And the people I’ve been learning about that are fresh and new in the industry I feel are on that same tip – open to try new things and experiment.

FH: And that leads to another question that I have. How do you feel about your competition, both known and unknown? You have your Beyonces, Rihannas, and Teedra Moses’ to contend with — then you have the up and coming artists that are trying to do what you’re trying to do.  How do you feel all of them?

TW: As far as the bigger names, I’m not really worried about them as competition. All I can worry about at this point is just making the best music that I can possibly make. As far as other artists that are trying to do what I’m trying to do, all I can do is be the best me I can be right now. Hopefully that comes through and people can see that I’m just trying to make good music and hopefully it works out.

FH: Have you ever taken any singing lessons?

TW: No I haven’t. I took a voice class one semester at Howard. But that was the extent of any vocal training.

FH: Was it worth it?

TW: Well it did help a little bit. You know doing the voice exercises and stuff like that. It was an elective. I needed to take a class and I figured, “I sing, so I’ll take this.” It was fun.

FH: What do you look for in production?

TW: I like things that sound different. I don’t want music that sounds like anything you’ve heard. I’m not like a Santogold or a M.I.A. I’m Tiara. Like I said before, I like to experiment and try new things. I like a lot of different types of music, so I don’t want my music to sound like anything I’ve heard on the radio.

FH: You said you listen to a lot of different types of music. What do you listen too?

TW: I really like new jack swing and 80’s and early 90’s R&B. I really like everything (laughs). I’ve been listening to Colin Munroe’s mixtape faithfully for the past few weeks.

FH: Whose mixtape were you referring to?

TW: Colin Munroe. I think he’s signed to universal. He’s this white guy from Toronto and he collaborates with a lot of hip-hop artists. He sings and sounds like he should have been in the beetles. He sounds like he’s British but he’s not. He’s crazy dope. So you should check him out.

FH: Is he someone you’d like to work with?

TW: I would love to work with him. I think that would be crazy insane. I’ve also been listening to Chester French. I’ve been getting into them a little bit.

FH: Who would you like to collaborate with dead or alive?

TW: Well I definitely want to work with Pharrell (Williams). I just found out that Stevie Wonder plays the drums and thought it would be crazy to have him drum on one of my songs. Honestly,there are a lot of people.

FH: Yeah I hear you on the Pharrell collaboration because I feel that your style is unconventional and his style is unconventional. So I could see some great music coming out of that.

TW: Yeah!

FH: Anyway, is there anyone or anything that you feel is taking away from music? Because you know, Ghostface was saying that south wasn’t really hip hop at one point; Ice-T dissed Souljah Boy because of his music; and some people feel downloading music is taking away from the quality of music and how people put music out. So do you have any pet peeved at the moment with music?

TW: I think the whole downloading thing is an issue because when your not paying for music, you’re affecting people’s money. This is some people’s bread and butter. It’s how they live so that’s definitely sucks. But as a college student and being broke at times, I understand if theres music you want to hear, you’re going to download it. And I feel the whole economy is taking away a little bit. I think the whole money thing is a big part of it.

And you mentioned Souljah Boy. That’s funny because I used to be so back and forth with him because clearly he makes catchy records and you can’t help but know some of the words. And some people are like “he’s not hip hop.” But I can’t hate on the kid because he is, one, a kid. And he’s just making records for kids. So we should let him be and let him have fun.

FH: Yeah a lot of people hate on Souljah Boy and say, “Man he’s stupid because he makes ‘stupid’ records.” And I feel that a lot of people may get the man confused with his music. Souljah Boy could totally be an intelligent guy and just be making these records because it’s what he likes. Are you afraid people may get misconceptions about you because of the records you make?

TW: No I’m not afraid. I have records that make me sound like I’m completely insane. People will hear certain records and think, “This bitch is crazy. She has issues.” But I’m not and I don’t have issues. I feel that’s the beauty of music. You can say things you couldn’t normally say during a conversation. You can even be another person. You can play a character. It’s art and with art you have to be creative. You can do things with music you wouldn’t normally do in your everyday life. So with music I can’t be scared of what people are going to think. You’re either going to love it or you going to hate it.

FH: I see you’re leaning towards being a well-rounded artist rather than only being a singer. How do you see yourself expanding and growing as an artist?

TW: Right now I can’t say what I may try in the future. I may try something tomorrow that I didn’t even know I was going to try and do. I definitely see myself trying other things and working with other elements or working with artists who make music in a totally different genre than I am in.  I think that’s one of the fortunate things about music. I feel everyone should have the freedom to try different things and expand themselves. You know like how Kanye did his whole album with Auto-Tune? People hated on him and asked why he did that. People should just leave him alone its dope that he tried that. he wanted to sing, so let the dude sing.

FH: Have you set any goals? If so, which is the most important for you to accomplish?

TW: This is what I want to do, so an obvious goal is to make it. Being a recording artist, making music, and sustain a life by doing just this is a huge goal for me. I just want to get my music out there. I want people to hear my music. I want to eventually have CD’s people can have and hear. I just want people to hear my music and for it to bring people together. I feel my music is universal and a lot of people will like it.

FH: What do you go to school for?

TW: I go for school for TV/Radio/Film. My major is in radio production.

FH: So if music doesn’t work out that’s what you plan on falling back on?

TW: Uh probably not (Laughs). You know they say you go to school for something and you end up not doing anything close to it. I like radio as far as the voice over part. But producing radio commercials and radio production- I don’t want to do that. I like to do a lot of things. I’m a people person. So maybe I’ll end up working with people and like plan weddings (Laughs). I just like to do too many things.

FH: I read in your profile that you moved from inner city Pittsburgh to a predominantly white area. Are we going to be able to hear stories about the trials and tribulations you had trying to assimilate into a predominately white area?

TW: Yeah I’m sure you definitely will because that’s something that happened to me that shaped who I am. I know a lot of people that went through that.  I came to Howard thinking “How am I going to fit in?” And come to find out, mad people went through pretty much what I went through. I feel it’s something a lot of people can relate to. So why not, you know?

FH: Where do you see yourself in five years?

TW: In five years I hope to be making good music and making a living solely doing this?

FH: Have you ever written songs for anyone? If not, would you consider it?

TW: Yeah! I haven’t done that yet but I would definitely consider doing it.

FH: Would you consider writing songs for males too? I know Neyo can write for women. That must be hard because you have to step inside their shoes. Do you think it would be hard to write for a guy?

TW: I don’t know. It might be, but I’d just have to try and see. I’ve never done that so I don’t really know. But it’s worth taking a shot at. I could be like the Neyo for the guy singers.

FH: So tell us how you linked up with Soul Rebel NYC.

TW: I met Mic Sean, who is my manager, in D.C. 2 or 3 years ago. I was just out with one of my really good friends and we were at this place called the Republic Gardens. I was standing next to him and a song came on and I was drizzly-That means drunk if you don’t know- and I guess I was feeling myself a little too much that night and this song came on and I said “They need me on this song”. That clearly started a conversation between us. I gave him my myspace page, we met up a couple of days later and I’ve been working with them ever since.

FH: You think that was coincidence or meant to happen?

TW: Well I think everything is meant to happen. I know it sounds easy and cliché but I’m just one of those people that feel everything happens for a reason. Obviously if I didn’t go there that night, or if he wasn’t there, I may not even be talking to you right now, ya know?

FH: So tell us a little bit about yourself outside of music.

TW: I definitely like being around my friends. Here in D.C., there are 4 girl I lived with during my junior and senior years and I like being with them. I like to cook. I like to eat – probably more so than cooking (laughs). You know, just hanging out and having a good time really. I need to exercise more. Maybe next time we talk that will be something I like to do.

FH: Is there anything else you’d like to say and leave Flawless Hustle with?

TW: Download my mixtape THIS IS TIARA next week! I put a lot of time and effort into it and really hope people love it and share it with others. Check me out at myspace.com/tiarawilesmusic and soulrebelnyc.com and just stay tuned, ’cause there is a lot of good music in the works.

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Be sure to check out Tiara Wiles’ new mixtape project “This is Tiara” by Soul Rebel NYC x Flawless Hustle which drops next week!