http://abcnews.go.com/Ent...id=2883250


ABC News
Former Prince protege ready for her solo shot
Reuters

- LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - From Grammy Award nominee to free agent: singer-songwriter Tamar survived a wild ride on the music industry roller coaster last year, finding her solo project shelved but reaping a Grammy nomination for a song she wrote and performed with Prince.

She's no newcomer to the business. When she was a preteen, Tamar Davis, a singer since the age of 3, sang with the group Girls Tyme -- whose members included future Destiny's Child talents Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Latavia Robertson. Performances at Prince's renowned house parties led to her joining the enigmatic talent onstage for a solo at the NAACP Image Awards.

After Prince secured a one-album deal with Universal Republic in late 2005, Tamar began working double time, contributing backing vocals on Prince's 2006 album, "3121," and recording her own Universal Republic debut.

The built-in exposure Tamar garnered during appearances on Prince's "3121" promotional tour generated buzz for her own bow as an artist. But her solo album was shelved.

The ride didn't end there, however. As 2006 wound down, Tamar learned her duet with Prince, "Beautiful, Love and Blessed," had earned a Grammy nomination for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals. The song, which Tamar co-wrote with Prince, lost its bid to "Family Affair" featuring John Legend and Joss Stone with Van Hunt.

During a phone interview a few days before the Grammys telecast, an excited Tamar laughed at the irony of her current free-agent status. "It's an interesting thing to be nominated and yet be an unsigned artist looking for a home."

As to why her album wasn't released or whether Prince's mercurial nature might have played a role in the situation, Tamar is philosophical rather than bitter, saying only that she was prepared, having read about similar travails faced by other artists like Anthony Hamilton, Alicia Keys and Ne-Yo.

"I don't have anything negative to say, and I don't feel defeated," she declares. "I'm pushing forward."

That she is. Laying low at her parents' home in Houston, she has been flying back and forth between New York and former home base Los Angeles to record another album.

Tamar owns the songs from her aborted Universal Republic set, some of which may appear on her new album.

This time around she's gunning for a more R&B-driven approach. "The last album was all live, and I didn't get the DJ Scratch feel on some of the songs I wanted to," she says. "This album is more R&B/hip-hop/funky with a Tina Turner vibe. But it's still very melodic."

Whether Prince will appear on the album remains a question. "He will probably be on here somewhere. It's a good mystery that I'm keeping," Tamar says.

Although the former backup singer and Prince still talk, Tamar says they saw each other for the first time in six months at the Grammys. While the connection is still there, Tamar knows it's her time now.

"It does hurt that I don't get to perform as much with him," she says. "But if I stay under his wing, I can't fly. And I'm ready to fly."

But why not just release the whole thing?! I'll assume P objects for some reason, and she just doesn't want to upset him? Or maybe just lack of a label? But if she's unsigned, who is financing the new recordings?

You go Tamar.

Why release something that you know won't sell? Perhaps that's the reason it's not being released. I mean, I liked BLB, All I Want Is You and SIIP, but Redhead Stepchild, Kept Woman, Holla & Shot and Holy Ground were very underwhelming and bland. None of those songs would do well in todays music climate.

Scraping that project was probably the best thing. Hopefully she will do better working with some fresh, young producers.
[Edited 2/17/07 6:07am]

Serena said:

Interesting...

PurpleCharm said:

I disagree on the underwhelming and bland part, except for Holla and Shout (cringe) I really liked the other tracks, however I definately agree that her newer songs are way more radio friendly and fits into what sells today. At the end of the day she has to do the music that she wants and I also see the CD being shelved an opportunity for her to move in the direction she wants to go.
[Edited 2/17/07 12:09pm]

That's not an article, that's a press release.

from the songs ive heard tamar songs werent bad cuz of prince they just didnt fit in2 whats hot in music now and from whats hot in music now who reallly wanna b in the nontalented crowd cuz everybody out now use the ssame beat machine 2 make there beats they dont do it like prince real music real band so what tamar is saying she wanna b in the non talent crowd wit the dj scratching she still young and wet behind the ears cuz anybody who wanna fit in wit this market is dumb

Looking forward to hearing it.
Hope it gets plenty of air play.

kaptainkrunk said:

she is not that young she must be almost 28 now which is pretty old in the entertainment biz if u are just trying to get started.

Sholt said:

well, in her defense Beyonce was 28 when she made it big.

seriously though,

WTF?

sosgemini said:

Beyonce was born Sept. 4, 1981.....that makes her 25 now.....

abierman said:

1) i was just teasing

however

2) that heffa aint 25.

sosgemini said:

I thought you were serious!

Serena said:

I like that. . . Good luck, Tamar!

Sholt said:

Tell that to Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, Vivian Green, Miki Howard, (the list goes on and on).

In R & B, many artist who went on to record gold and platinum records got their "big break" well into their 30's. Not everyone "hit" at the same age as Beyonce or Brittany.

Serena said:

I can't believe only one caught this before...

It made me immediately go

sosgemini said:

LMAO So I've heard.

Támar

I loved her from the moment I heard 3121

CandaceS said:

Let's just say that it was probably one of the more anticipated protege releases he's done. It'll always be a mystery why it got shelved.

PurpleCharm said:

I think many would have bought it. maybe though he had no backing to promote it and get it radio play, which it would have to do to generate sales. She is a new artist afterall.

That same article was out more than 2 weeks ago. Forgot what site I read it on . I thought when I saw the heading it was a new one. Kudos to Tamar though.
[Edited 2/25/07 12:49pm]

Serena said:

O LAWD..more r&b driven/hip hop.....

booo....now she can fit in with the rest of the r&b/hip hop drivel...yea Tamar!

prodigalfan said:

The artists you mentioned (Except maybe Vivian Green) Came out in the 80's. Nowadays they want them as young as possible. If Tamar is going to try and break into the pop market I'd say forget it. She should do the Neo-Soul thing like Jill Scott or Indie Arie. You know, Grown folks music.

Hey, thats all well and good, but, what i wanna know is, when is this project coming out? peace

Tamar said:

oh dear

prodigalfan said:

yeah, that's a list of some real consistent chart-burners.

i dont care, i still want to own milk and honey! it MUST be out there somewhere!

This has happened so many times...Prince produces an album for a protege and it gets canned.Remember Rosie Gaines and her 1993 album 'Concrete Jungle'? Or,if the album does get released,it suffers from a lack of promotion (Chaka's excellent 'Come 2 My House').In recent years,Prince has had alot of bad luck producing albums for other people.

I actually like her positive attitude (if not the music I've heard), she seems like a class act.

.
[Edited 4/18/07 21:31pm]