EUR Mya Article

MYA

In April Mya hit the charts in a big way with her debut single
"It's All About Me" featuring Dru Hill's Sisqo. Then she hooked
up with The Fugees' Pras on "Ghetto Superstar" from the film
"Bullworth." She also landed a choice spot on the Boyz II Men
tour. Now she's keeping the momentum rolling with her latest
single, "Movin' On" featuring Silkk The Shocker.
"I just want to be original," said Mya. "I won't do it if It sounds
like someone else." She has come a long way in a short time.

The now 19-year-old singer didn't even let her parents know she
could sing until she was 14. Up 'til then she'd been focused on
her dancing. Now that her career is moving along at a quick pace,
she's admits she's surprised at how fast things happened.
"When I look back to just one year ago I thought none of this
would happen. I was on my bus in high school and I was reading
Brandy's album cover. I was reading the names of all the people
she was thanking. At that time I wasn't even thinking of getting
a record deal."

While she might have been admiring Brandy's album, Mya
knew she wanted to be an original. She didn't want to sound like
anyone else and she didn't want to look like anyone else.
"People ask me who do I emulate and I don't know what to tell
them. I try to involve all kinds of styles," said the young star.
One of the many high points Mya's experienced in her short
career is being part of the "Bullworth" soundtrack. On "Ghetto
Superstar," she sings the hook - which is the melody to the Dolly
Parton/Kenny Rogers hit "Islands in the Stream." Getting the
opportunity to work with The Fugees' Wyclef Jean, who produced
the song, and Pras who performs on it with Mya and Ol' Dirty
Bastard, was an education.

"They're really, really talented. Wyclef is amazing. I didn't
really know anything about him until I started working with him.
Pras as well. He plays the piano. They're just so original," Mya
said. It was obvious that she was she was impressed by their
talent. But how does she feel about her own driving force?
"I'm a perfectionist, I don't like things that don't turn out my
way. But when things go wrong I just deal with it."
Mya's emphasis on perfectionism and originality -- along with
being paired up with some of the hottest acts in the business
has served her well.