Written by Nigel Jackson njac319228@aol.com

Maysa is one of few Smooth Jazz Artist to remain consistently on top of the Billboard’s Sales Chart, and perform to SOLD OUT shows as was the night of this interview. With 3 sold out shows, loyal fans truly demonstrate an amazing jester of love and support for real talent.  This proves that live performances and music videos are important to reach and market to audiences.
She has an infectious warm spirit and is a true humanitarian in every sense of the word.  At www.maysa.comshe makes her self accessible to her supporters and is open and candid about her day to day walk through life. I sat down with Maysa backstage prior to her hitting the stage at a local hot spot in Alexandria VA, ”The Birchmere”.

Nigel-So Maysa tell us about your new CD ( not released at the time of the interview)

Maysa- Metamorphisis; It’s life imitating art, it’s my story, it’s me. This past year has been a real testament of faith and self healing. Pain is truly a motivator and now I know where broken hearts go. My man and I called it splits, and it was one of the most painful experiences to date for me…It hurt.  Writing this CD helped me keep it together, I guess you could say it was therapy.  I came out in the 90’s during a time when image was so important and people were faking it i.e. Milli Vanilli. It was a strange time in music however God saw fit for me to have continuity and I carried on.

I’m not a conformist and that often caused friction. I love love and love is multifaceted and to me my music is a facet of my love . I love me and being told time and time again and sometimes not so nice that ” Oh, you’re too big or your breast are too big, or the type of music you sing is not popular, over and over and over again this sort of etched at me over the years.  God is at work not man, so I didn’t let those negative things get in the way of what GOD had in store for me.
Yes, its all by GODS design…

The title of the CD “Metamorphisis” simply describes the rebirth and renewing of my spirit which is motivated by this past years wake up call. My inner most turmoil numbed my whole heart and self so much, that April 2008 I could not move but for Gods grace and mercy.  I was able to reach deep inside me and I wrote 10 songs from top to bottom. My prayer is that I help someone out there who is going through or has been through what I’ve experienced. The music I make is my gift to the world, each song is filled with joy, passion, sensuality, and love.
Nigel- Maysa your a gifted vocalist with a sound all your own. Who are some of your inspirations?

Maysa- Melba Moore, Chaka Khan and too many more to name. I must tell you that my years at Morgan State also helped shape me into the woman I am today.Time and GOD will take care of the rest. I’ve been blessed with a beautiful son and a team of people who support and believe in me no matter what the trend is or the flavor of the month. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. I don’t do this for the money and fame…Music is my life.

MORE ABOUT MAYSA- Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Maysa discovered that she wanted to be a musician at six when her parents took her to see the musical Purlie. She recalled, “The moment Melba Moore took the stage an opened her mouth I made my decision that music would be my fate.” A graduate of Morgan State University with a degree in classical performance, Maysa met Stevie Wonder while still a senior in college.

Upon graduating, she moved to North Hollywood to perform with Stevie Wonder’s Wonderlove. She performed with them for the next year. While with Wonder, she appeared on the Jungle Fever soundtrack and television shows Oprah and The Tonight Show.

In the early 90s, Maysa auditioned over the phone to become a member of the acclaimed British Jazz/Funk/R&B band,  ”Incognito” and in 1992 she relocated to London and recorded Tribes & Scribes, featuring the hit single “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing.”

Since then, Maysa has appeared on over seven “Incognito” recordings including their latest CD, Bees and Things and Flowers. After being “discovered” as a solo artist by Carl Griffin the then VP of A&R at GRP Records, Maysa recorded her self-titled debut in 1995, followed by her solo sophomore effort “All My Life”  in 1999, “Out of The Blue” in 2002, “Smooth Sailing” in 2004, “Sweet Classic Soul” in 2006, and now “Feel The Fire”, 2007.

Maysa is a singer, songwriter and activist as well as the spokesperson for RSV, a disease that can be fatal to premature babies.  She also is featured in a nationally televised PSA, sponsored by the March of Dimes.

Maysa, I wish you continued blessings and success in your career!