Spring 2006; Interview and images by DJ Parallax

GRANDMA used to always say that when someone is truly sincere it will shine through every aspect of their heart and soul. Once upon a time- when artists spent more money producing music than their photo shoots, and before video killed the radio star- R & B music was that longtime friend. You used to sing your joys with that friend. When you were down that same friend perscribed soothing for the heart, soul, and spirit in other songs. When singers really gave their heart when they sang- before your favorite radio station became a category on the dial. And no matter what you were going through, those songs made sense. Listeners seeking that R &B may dig a little deeper nowadays to find that music that speaks to their plaintive heart and soul. You don’t have to dig any deeper than Teedra Moses.

Teedra Moses breathes new life and fresh air into a lot of current and stale music. She does not sound like any of her other R &B peers. She writes her own songs. Her production team puts the hammer down with fresh and unique tracks (Poli Paul, early collaborator with Blackeyed Peas). Her voice and her looks set souls on fire and gives goosebumps. But don’t let the smooth taste fool you. Unlike some of her peers, this young woman does not rely on the grace of her good looks. This beautiful young lady is not only a strong and stirring singer but also is a gifted songwriter who has collaborated with Raphael Saadiq, Christina Milian, Trina, Jadakiss, and others. In 2004 she released her critically-acclaimed debut Complex Simplicity, a myriad of songs detailing her life, love, pain with the pure and powerful, yet delicate voice of a songbird. Her music details the conflicts people go through when working to resolve those not-so-easy issues of the heart with the hope of finding peace of mind.

It’s rare to encounter too many people, especially in entertainment, who are humble and sincere about themselves and their work. We managed to catch up with Ms. Moses in between her promotional tour and her session work on her forthcoming follow-up, The Young Lioness. We wanted to know why this caged bird sings.

A lotta people I know that have heard your project have been trying to figure out your roots, regionally speaking. Where are you from?
I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. I’m from the 17th Ward. Me and my immediate family moved out to Los Angeles when I was in high school.

What were you doing before you got signed?
I was a stylist; I worked in and out of (the) fashion and music (industries). I have always loved clothes- I have just loved fashion. I always liked to dress, and people always told me that I had a good sense of style.

You do it well.
Thank you! Some of my friends took notice, and I eventually got put on to doing stylist work for several people.

What would you be doing if you hadn’t gotten signed?
I probably would have still been working in fashion, more than likely as a stylist, but I may have grown into something else. I couldn’t exactly say, though. Life can sometimes take you in another direction.

With changing directions, is that how you got interested in the music game? I’m thinking because of how fashion and music are always so closely linked together.
Not really. I went through some personal experiences that led the way to eventually telling my stories in song. Honestly, I felt like it was meant to happen.

Yeah, much of the time we’re being guided by higher powers, would you agree?
Definitely! I didn’t take to it at first in life. But singing was the only thing that felt right to me when I did it. It is the only thing I have done so far that felt good that came naturally. It satisfied me in a way that nothing else ever did before. It just felt like it was meant for me to do.

How long have you been singing?
I’ve only been singing for about three years.

For real?
Yeah, only three years.

I never would’ve thought that in my life, given what the album sounds like and how you sound live, in person.
Yep, I’ve only been singing for three years.

With your feet now planted in the music industry, what are the best and the worst things you’ve seen since you started?
Hmm. So far the best (part) would have to be seeing how my music has affected people, knowing that it’s made an impact on people and that others can relate to those experiences. The worst part? I think just the general shadiness of people. But that’s a part of life.

True indeed. Let’s switch gears for a minute. You are signed to TVT, which usually isn’t known for R&B or soul music. Labels sometimes don’t always deal straight. What led you to them?
I wanted to maintain complete artistic control. The people at TVT respected my creativity and respected what I wanted to do and how I wanted to approach my music. I wanted to be me and they have let me be me all the time, since the beginning.

That’s a good look. You don’t have many artists in control of their situation, especially some female artists, unfortunately. How do you feel about that?
That’s exactly why I did the deal I did, because of that kind of support (creatively). Like I said, I have total artistic control over my work. I couldn’t have it any other way. I wanna be respected for being me and doing my thing. For me it all comes from the heart.

And your music definitely sounds heartfelt and sincere, more so on that real side that we don’t seem to get these days.
Thank you! (smiles graciously) And yes, I am a sincere person. My music is really about my life. This is music from my heart. I am real and I wouldn’t wanna sugar coat anything. When you listen to my album, you get my personal experiences, my feelings during that time, my life- (it’s about) what I’ve heard, seen, felt & experienced.
How many women do you think are actually just themselves on television with their real hair? It’s a fucking shame that these girls on TV act and dress the way they do sometimes. It’s like that black girl with the short hair or the ponytail can’t be herself. A lot of people (in the industry) will try to dictate to the girls how they should be marketed, or who they think they should be. I always just wanted to be myself. You know, this is me. Like the same way that Mary J. Blige affected all the girls- when the girls wanted to wear the boots that she had on, her whole style, she was just herself- she was real. That’s a quality that I think is important in my music and how I create. I’m that real (chick) just like other women out here everyday. Not to say that you aren’t real if you’ve had a weave – I’ve had one before. But you can be yourself. And you can be true to yourself. And that’s what I want to shine through.

When I’m listening to your album it sounds like you find perspective in both the good and the bad in life- all as a part of staying true to yourself, like you said. How do you channel all those energies into your creative process with your music?
I usually write about what I feel at the time. Sometimes I’ll think of situations and create from something I thought of in my head. Other times I write about what I went through or what people around me or close to me have experienced. I created the songs I wrote for Complex Simplicity mostly two years ago. Most of those songs were things and feelings I was dealing with at that time. Once I recorded the first song (”Caught Up”) I needed a little help to construct some of the other songs because I hadn’t really structured a song or arranged vocals before. Now I do it all the time.

And to be clear, you write all your own songs?
Yes!

When you create, is it sort of like a release for you in dealing with certain life situations?
You could say that. It’s usually about my mood at the time. Most of the songs on the album deal with things I dealt with in my last relationship that just ended. I played the songs for him, and he already thought the songs were about him anyway. When he heard “No More Tears” he already knew it was talking about him. We were sitting in the car on our way to the movies once. He said he didn’t like the songs. Then he hurt my feelings. And I was sitting in the theatre, thinking like, “damn, this (song) is really how I feel about him”.

Wow. What or who else influences you?
Prince, most definitely. His music sounds like no one else in the world. When I first played with songwriting I would write songs to his music. I also definitely came up listening to hip-hop, especially (Eric B. & ) Rakim. Rakim was classic with this wordplay. I used to study his words, his flow, word for word. I also like Teena Marie, Caron Wheeler (from Soul II Soul), Roberta Flack, and Patrice Rushen.

You have a song that was on your sampler that kinda takes me back to some real hardcore 80’s R&B soul- like a Angela Winbush meets-Cherrelle-meets-Alyson Williams vibe, similar to the other names you mentioned. It was called “Doin’ You”. Why is it not on the album?
Ah, “Doin You” got a lot of good responses when we did the album sampler but we sampled “Check Out My Melody” (from Eric B. & Rakim) and couldn’t get the sample cleared for the album. So we had to leave it off.

That song is CRAZY! But your album definitely doesn’t lack in substance and variety. Other than that track, there really weren’t a lot of samples or outside collabos, aside from Jadakiss and Raphael Saadiq. That being said, how do you feel about the current state of R & B music?
There isn’t much out there. There’s a lot of shit out there. It’s just the way the industry is right now with everything. But in the underground R & B scene, and underground hip-hop too, there’s still a lot of good, independent music that is coming to the surface. And I think that is a good thing. Everyone can’t do the same thing. It’s nice to get something fresh.

Something fresh, like a different style, a different way to hear the music?
Yes, I wanna go in a different (and) unique direction with my music. I believe in giving you me. This is the truth.

Speaking of truth, tell me why the album was called Complex Simplicity.
Complex Simplicity is a few things. It comes from dealing with feelings that are easy (to understand) on the surface by definition (that) are not that easy to process in life. It’s about dealing with love, enjoying life, and appreciating love and life even if painful or other complicated things happen. That can happen for everybody, men or women. This music is my life. Dealing with life- I’ve had a lot to deal with, and I think others have too. Everyone can get something from it. And my life is about the simple things that aren’t so simple.

Other than the influences you named, are there any recent artists you are listening to?
T.I. mostly, and Van Hunt. There are some others, too, but I do so much writing for myself and others. I listen to a lot of tracks (instrumental CDs) and I don’t really have too much time for listening to other music outside of my work. Sometimes if I listen to others that are currently doing their thing it’s difficult to write for myself, or from my perspective, if I am listening to other elements that are not me.
The only other time I usually listen to other stuff is if it’s a record from an older artist (like old school) from a different time period. There’s a lot of stuff out right now that really ain’t moving me. I’ve been creating so much music, I almost don’t have time for too much else.

You’re definitely grind-heavy with it. But all work, no play? No chill mode?
Well, there’s a tendency for it to all be the same sometimes. You take your business with you. For me when I am working I tend to take my business wherever I go, so most of the time it’s both. But it’s what I love to do, so it works out.

You hustle hard. With taking your business wherever you go, what do you see happening for yourself and your career in the near future?
I want my name and my music to be a brand. I love music. But I’m not sure if I’m gonna just do music alone, or move on and pursue something else in life, or if I might back to fashion. I don’t (exactly) know what the future holds. But I am working on making sure that people feel me so that anything my name is associated with is good quality. I’m working towards making sure that when people go out and get (an album or another related product), they want to associate themselves with it because it’s me. (I wanna know) that they are sold on what I bring (to the table). If Diddy started making coffee and selling his own coffee, people would take off and run with it because they like the person associated with that product. I’m working towards creating a brand like that. No matter where you may go and hear about Teedra Moses it’ll become a name brand you are familiar and comfortable with.

With your work ethic being the way it is, do you have any words of advice for the upcoming, aspiring artists out there?
You gotta get out here and grind. It doesn’t matter if you’re signed to a major label, if you are independent or what. You have to be willing to get out and push yourself, because no one is always gonna push you or show you support. You can always push yourself better than anyone or anybody else.

You obviously have a keen instinct both in your music and your business sense. That’s an instinct not too many artists have. Does that have anything to do with your nickname, “the Young Lioness”? How did you get that name?
I watch a lot of the nature shows on TV. When they talk about lions, the lions are the kings of the jungle. They run the whole shit. But the (lioness) is the leader of the pack. No matter what the (male) lion does, when it comes to the pack the female runs shit in the jungle. He basically answers to her. She actually controls what goes on, and he seeks the approval or guidance from her before moves are made. It doesn’t go down without her approval. That’s where it came from.

Do you apply the “Lioness” ideal with your personal life too?
If (the situation) is right, yes.

On your album sampler, you mentioned that you never really met anyone that made you feel like you wanna step up and take initiative to make things happen in a relationship, to say what you truly felt. Is that still true?
Yeah. Not to say it like I wouldn’t take any initiative in some situations, but it would take a lot for me to step to someone first and do it all the time.

So, for the record, because the men definitely wanna know, are you single, unattached?
Yes, I am single. (Smiles)

What kind of qualities do you look for in an ideal man, or in an ideal relationship situation?
I like a man who is really aggressive. I like a man that is strong and not afraid to step up and take charge. A weak man or someone who’s not prepared to lead- and I mean lead when necessary- need not apply. I feel that a man’s role is definitely that of a leader. He should be a leader out in the world but understand that the woman will also be running the show. Also a man that is spiritual, that believes in a God. If he doesn’t believe there’s a God or another force out there- he’s buggin. He’s gotta have self-respect and respect for me as a human being and a woman.

In your album artwork you dedicate some words in your mother’s memory in addition to the last song on the CD, “Shirley’s Song”. Can you elaborate on the impact your mother has had on your music?
Sure . . . I feel like I was meant to do this. My mother always taught me that you have to utilize the talents that God blessed you with because they are gifts.

When my mother passed (in 2001) it was like her spirit guided me in this direction. I had never sung before. I never really tried it. Singing right now is a gift given to me from something and someone greater than myself. My mother (gospel singer Shirley Moses) sang until she (totally) lost her voice. It’s like her spirit is always with me when I sing. When we recorded “Shirley’s Song” I was singing along with my mother on the record she originally did. But the way we did it, people have told me that they can’t tell when my mother starts and where I pick up.

Yeah, listening to the record, it’s almost like it’s a seamless duet between both of you in the beginning.
If you listen carefully, she’s singing to an organ. The organ I am singing to, though, is not the original one.

It’s a strong record. Calling it very emotional would be an understatement, I think. I’ve seen it strike a chord with male and female listeners.
Thank you very much! It was and is very much from the heart. I’ve had grown women and the hardest thug-ass niggas from the block hear that song and almost come to tears. One of my boys didn’t wanna admit it at first, but he later came to me and said it made him think of his situation with his mom. It means a lot to me that other people can relate to me and my music, especially that song because it is very close to my heart.

You got different people from different walks of life feeling your music. That’s gotta be gratifying, considering that you haven’t been doing this that long.
I look at it as being a gift from God, a Blessing I couldn’t ignore. I might have some struggles too, with this or anything in life, but I look at it (and myself) like cream. And you know that the cream will always rise to the top.

www.teedramoses.com
www.myspace.com/teedramoses