Interview with Tyme


Q: Please tell me something about your musical influences, where you're coming from and how and why you've decided to pursue a career in the music business?

Tyme: Some of my musical influences are Marvin Gaye, Jill Scott, Musiq, Billie Holliday, The Jones Girls, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles...I have a lot. Anyone that has a message in their music intrigues me.
Music has been a part of me since I was a child. It was very hard to try to pursue a career in anything else. When I first went to college, I was a biology major. By the end of the first semester, all of my classes were in music.

Q: Songs like Shorty or Momma offer some food for thought. Please tell me more about the stories behind these songs and what inspires you to write your lyrics in general.

Tyme: Shorty is a song I wrote on the plane ride back from Pennsylvania after my younger brother was killed. We kept talking about him coming to stay with me in Los Angeles but unfortunately he never made it. Momma is a song that actuall happened to a member of my family. Anytime I write it is going to be a story. Life inspires me.

Q: How would you describe your music to someone who haven't heard of Tyme before?

Tyme: Soul Music with a purpose.

Q: Where do you see your niche in today's music?

Tyme: A modern day Marvin Gaye. When Marvin first decided he wanted to release certain 'political' songs, he was told by music executives that songs like "What's Goin' On" would never be accepted by his listeners. I have been told the same thing. But ironically, my political and in your face lyrics have come to be what my supporters listen for in my songs.

Q: You've worked with other musicians before and even wrote songs for movies. How difficult or easy was it to finally release your debut album?

Tyme: Well, Dirk for me it was about doing what was next for my career growth. Going with the flow. It was time.

Q: Please tell me something about the recording process of A Matter Of Time. How you've met your fellow musicians, how long it took to record the 15 tracks etc.

Tyme: This album took three years to record. I recorded some tracks in Pennsylvania, New York, and Los Angeles. Whenever I would come up with a new idea for a song, I would record it while it was fresh. Sometimes that meant going to Pennsylvania to work with my cousin Ijasneem and sometimes it meant being in New York or Los Angeles. Since the musicians I worked with were in different states I did a lot of travelling. Besides working with my cousin, I met a lot of the musicians from being around the circuit and being introduced to them. Just vibe'n and creating what we think is good music.

Q: You've released you debut album independently. Where do you see the advantages and disadvantages of doing eveything on your own and would it be an option for you to sign with a major label?

Tyme: The key advantage is freedom of creativity. The disadvantage is limited marketing. I am not against being signed to a major but it would definitely have to be worth my while.

Q: One of my favourite songs is the Jazz Version of Mad Day. Is jazz a music genre you like to explore further in the future?

Tyme: All the jazz heads love mad day! For me, Jazz is a never ending experience. I remember being a little girl and tuning in to a station that played acid jazz on Sundays. My mother was amused by my mature taste at such a young age. I will always explore jazz.

Q: What can we expect from Tyme in the future?

Tyme: More of me.

For more infos visit tymecd.com, cdbaby.com and read my review of A Matter Of Time.