Na'Sha is a new singer on Pure Records. This talented young lady left her bank job behind to pursue her music career dreams. She left Ohio for Miami and has been in Florida every since. She has been touring with Shaggy this past summer and her single "Fire" is currently on the radio. Her debut album drops on September 20th. This interview was conducted in mid-August.

I read you are from Columbus Ohio right?
Na'Sha-Columbus, Ohio. Midwest standup!

How long have you been aspiring to be a singer?
Na'Sha-I would have to say since I was five and my mother put me in the church choir I have been singing, but it started with poetry.

Being from the midest and Columbus did you find a lot of outlets to perform when you were growing up?
Na'Sha-No, not actually in Columbus because at the time it wasn't exactly music central but there were a couple of talent shows I got into. Every chance I got I was trying to get exposed. I had to actually leave there to get my demo done in Dayton. So not really in Columbus were there a lot of outlets.

So when you had your demo done you were still trying to shop it in Columbus?
Na'Sha-I was in Ohio. I had a manger at the time and he shopped the demo to a couple of major labels and I went to go to the auditions and unfortunately people got fired who I was working with at Sony and all the politics and stuff. At 19 I met Pear Records.

I also read that you were working at a bank and you quit your job and moved to Miami and drove 22 hours?
Na'Sha-I sure did. You read the bio?

Yeah!
Na'Sha-Yeah I did. When I got word that Pure Records was interested, they were independent but they are associated in the industry heavy. When I read I would get the opportunity to work with Scott Storch and Cool and Dre I was like, "It's time to go." I packed my stuff in my Chrysler Sebrine and drove all the way and I've been in Florida every since I started recording the next day as a matter of fact.

Really wow. How did your family feel about you making that leap of faith?
Na'Sha-You know what? They are 100% behind me. They've always been.

Can you describe your songwriting process.
Na'Sha-My songwriting process usually starts with a melody that I have in my head or something. I usually start making it up myself. I usually write poetry. So I turn poetry into songs or a melody is in my head. If a beat is present then whatever it makes me feel I start writing.

When can people expect to hear your first single?
Na'Sha-It's on the radio now. The first single is called "Fire." It's on the radio right now.

Have you shot the video yet?
Na'Sha-Not yet we will be doing that in the next week or so. Or two weeks.

I know some singers are dancers and some aren't dancers, do you enjoy dancing?
Na'Sha-Oh yeah. I do it all. I love to dance. I was dancing before I could really sing at like 4 or something. My mom said I came out dancing.

So you've been in Florida two years now?
Na'Sha-Yeah.

What have you been doing these last two years?
Na'Sha-Its been work, work, work. Just working on the record, trying to get it completed. We finally got it done about a month or so and the record should be coming out Sept the 20th.

Who are some of your musical influences?
Na'Sha-I would have to say Whitney Houston of course, Tina Turner and Kim Burrell who is a gospel singer.

Listen to an audio clip from this interview

Have you performed any live shows this summer?
Na'Sha--Yes I've actually been on the tour with Shaggy in the UK and locally I've done a lot of shows in Florida and I'm going to be doing a show in September in Ohio.

Was this your first time going to the UK?
Na'Sha-This was my first time going anywhere outside of the states.

What did you enjoy about the UK?
Na'Sha-You know what I felt like I was missing out on a lot of stuff especially Africa. When we went to S. Africa it was It was so much different than what I thought in my head, they are so nice just the scenery is so beautiful it was inspiring.

Since you are in Miami are you going to the MTV awards this week?
Na'Sha-Actually I'm not. The MTV awards or the VMA Awards? Wait a minute.

The MTV VMA Awards it's the same thing.
Na'Sha-I was like "What is the world is she talking about?" No, I'm not going to that but I have a party, a release party on the 27th which is the day before the VMA party.

This will be a release for your album?
Na'Sha-Actually, the label release

Like a launch party for the label?
Na'Sha- Exactly.

When does your album come out?
Na'Sha-The album comes out Sept 20th.

So that's coming up soon.
Na'Sha-Very soon

Do you have a lot of promotion coming up?
Na'Sha-Yes I do. I have a lot. I'm still on tour with Shaggy so we cross promote I do my set on his show and we also do songs together. Just a lot of shows in the states.

What are your long term goals as an artist?
Na'Sha-My long term goal is just to obtain longevity in this business just to survive in it.

Na'Sha Official Website Pure Records Website

Interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, and Thabiz.com 2005
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is the author of Be My Sorority Sister Under Pressure and the Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students. She is the founder of Thabiz.com and Imissthe80s.com and writes for the Rap, Teen, and 1980s section at Bellaonline.com. She is an ASCAP member as a writer and a publisher. Please contact Dorrie for advertising inquiries, lyric writing inquiries, reprint rights, paying entertainment jobs, or general comments.
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Interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, thabiz.com August 2005