Photograph by Anthony Powell

As one-third of Beyoncé’s back-up trio the Mamas, singer Tiffany Monique has been around the world like Lisa Stansfield: China, Africa, Russia and beyond. So the Brooklyn eatery Cheryl’s Global Soul Café seems to be the perfect locale to meet Tiffany and producer Kevin “Kwiz” Ryan, who are eager discuss not only their globe-trotting adventures, but also their recently released project, Nemesis.

“The first single and title track was influenced by meeting so many naysayers who told me I would never make it in this business,” says Tiffany, a Tennessee native who was raised in Newark, New Jersey. Writing her own lyrics and melodies, she also sings her own backgrounds on the five-song EP. “Over the years, a few record executives told me that although I had the talent, I didn’t have the look,” she says with quiet determination. “Nemesis expresses my determination to prevail.”

Producer/musician Kwiz, who oversees the production company Digital Khaoss and recorded the Nemesis project at Rhythm Lab Studios in the Bronx, has also toured with Beyoncé. Working as a programmer, he was used to seeing Tiffany do her background thing. But it wasn’t until after hearing her stand-in for Lady B. in 2008, wailing “Dangerously in Love” during a sound check, that he realized the extent of Tiffany’s talent.

“Music is my passion,” says Kwiz, a studio rat who produced ’90s fem soulsters the Earth Girls. Although signed to Capitol Records, the group never released an album. “Prior to meeting Tiffany, I had lost my taste for producing.” Fired up by what he witnessed and, more importantly, what he heard, Kwiz was ready to go back to the lab and make Nemesis a reality.

for the rest, go to:

http://www.soulsummer.com...ny-monique

[Edited 7/13/10 18:32pm]

The song sampling on her page is peculiar. Not in a bad way, but it's hard to tell her style or what she's leaning toward. Is she neo-soul? Is she the horrible R&B bullshit out there? I like the "Only Love" song a lot.