How did you bridge that starting in middle to school to joining the group Lovher?
Shire'-Well, Sisqo, he actually lived around the corner from me. I'll say about five minutes away from me. We used to catch the bus together to school, him Jazz, sometimes we would see Nokio but he lived across town. We used to do a lot of talent shows and he used to always tell me he was gonna make it. At the time I was doing a lot of drama and a lot of competitions as well. But after they got their deal and their first album success that when he in turn was like, "Before you get out of school what do you think about doing this group Lovher?" I was like, "What's Lovher?" and he was like, "It's going to be a female version of Dru Hill," and he was like, "I want you to be the female me." At first I was like, "Ya know, come on." A lot of time people say things and they don't really follow through with it but he did. He came back before their second album, before Dru Hill recorded it and we started to put the group together. He introduced me to the other ladies, two were from Milwaukee and the other is from Los Angeles.

From what I've read it looks like that was a fun experience. What was it like for you being in a group like that, that got some national exposure at a young age?
Shire'-It was a very exciting period because we got to see what the music business was then compared to what it is now. With Sisqo and Dru Hill, we got to go on the road with them. It was only like a week, like the last tour that they did. Woody wasn't in the group with them at the time, but we got to go to different cities with them and see them at the height of their career right before Sisqo started his solo career, so we learned from that and then just our own experiences, just challenges being a female group that was put together and everybody just trying to find themselves because we were young and we just had a lot of growing up to do and we grew up in the business. We did some things we probably shouldn't have. It's just about learning from your mistakes and just growing. We did a lot of nice shows though. We went on the road with Sisqo and we did TRL with him and the first annual BET Awards with him and a couple of other venues during his solo career.

Shire' on her early years with Lovher

I know the album didn't come out and that must have been really hard for you. How did you pick yourself up from that and keep your career going?
Shire'-Honestly, God. My family. They kept pushing me. That avenue was presented to each one of us, and it was presented to me and my mom was like if that's your dream I believe you belong on stage. So whatever way it comes you just keep working, I approve every decision you make and you can always go back to school. She went back to school late like she was 28, 29. She told me you have time, you're only 25 you can be like me and go back to school later. She pushed me and I'm happy and of course my team Midi Mafia and Hot City from here in Philadelphia, they let me know, "Come on keep writing these songs and eventually you are going to be heard whether it be through my writing or vocally."

So how did you go about getting this latest record deal?
Shire'-Bruce Waynne of Midi Mafia, he writes and he visits down here in Philadelphia and he would give me tracks. This was right before they did Fantasia's track, the one their Grammy nominated for so I'm proud of them. He was like, "Come on, let's try to write some songs because I got Fanny, I got the J-Lo," because they were working on her project as well. From that I was doing a couple of records. From that they actually met up with Steve Rifkind. Steve Rifkind in turn was like, "Who is this young lady singing this song with this deep voice?" And he was like, "We can bring her there this week." And he was like, "I want to meet her tonight." It was just like that. I just so happened to be in New York. I was up there trying to find a stylist and I didn't even have an outfit for the next day so we had to run around and get ready and he wanted to do it on the spot. Like he was like, "That's you, singing that? Okay, whose your lawyer?" I was like, "Wow." I guess when they really want it, it happens.

I was looking on your Myspace, and I see that you have a free mix tape for download. R&B singers don't usually do that before their album is released. What made you decide to have the free mix tape available?
Shire'-Just to give the people something. I've been preparing myself. also the business has changed and hip hop has been very, very strong, the strongest part of the business and it's a money maker. I love hip-hop as well so a lot of the tracks that I actually used were tracks that Steve Rifkind with Loud Records, he owns a lot of that stuff, so some of them were actually a lot of his artists, Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang, so I thought it would be hot since I'm on a predominately hip-hop label if I give it some R&B flare for today and sing over the hip hop beats and it all went together well. He was like, "You did well, you did some of Loud's hits." With me doing the deal with Steve I thought it would be a good way to start bonding and seeing where I could go musically.

I know the mix tape is named Baltimore's Daughter. What was life like growing up in Baltimore for you?
Shire'-It is what it is. I have to say I've lived in both. When you live in Baltimore everything is East and West and I've lived on both sides. Hey it is what it is. You have to come there. I love it because its my home city. If I hadn't met Dru Hill and all those other people I don' t think that I would have gotten the opportunity so young. So I'm very appreciative of being from there and being friends with such talented guys who believed in me so much.

Who are some singers who have inspired you? I notice you had Kim Burrell on your Myspace under inspirations, who are some other artists who have inspired you?
Shire'-I love Beyonce. I love Keyshia Cole. I love Alicia Keys. I love Mary of course. Those are the ones who are really influential in my life right now. I admire the fact that they're out there grinding and becoming multimedia diva's doing reality shows and just being really hands on with their business and I think that's hot. They are all four really talented women and they are being trend setters and making a difference in the whole business and I am really feeling them.

Are you in the process of recording your album or are you still recording it?
Shire'-I did a lot of the tracks with Midi Mafia and Hot City. We are actually going to do at least three more records when I am out in L.A. when I'm out there with Midi because we are going to go to the Grammy's. Yeah, I'm so excited. They called me and said, "We're Grammy nominated, get your heels and your dress together." I'm featured on a record with another R&B artists under SRC. His name is Topic and its his second single and he's from the West Coast. He's really, really hot, so that's something people can look forward to. Of course, I'm hoping to get something with Akon, but of course he's so everywhere. It's kind of hard to get up with him.

I asked Dirty Swift the same question in reverse, what it was like working with you, so I will ask you, what's it like working with Midi Mafia? They seem so cool to work with.
Shire'-Their track record is so great and phenomenal to me with J-Lo, and Fantasia and of course 50 Cent, cause that's where it started from. They really know, as an artist, how to make you feel really comfortable and strong and feel like you can do anything. Believe me it's not like they stroke my ego to the point where I feel like I'm a diva. But they make me feel confident. Its like, we'll go in, work it out, you write some stuff, you come in with some stuff, and we'll come out with a hit record. That's just how they feel. It's nothing personal. We're just going to work hard to make sure we have a hot sound. They give me the freedom to write. Some writers have their select people that they want, but they give me the freedom to creatively do what I want to do. If I come across something I'm stuck on they'll help me, because Bruce writes too. We actually co-wrote two of the songs on my record.

Is song writing something that you enjoy?
Shire'-This whole experience I can talk about. It's therapy for me because I thought I was going to be successful in my first group coming out under a multi big artist like Sisqo, because Sisqo was really, really big. Starting over, going back, I had to get a job, all of that stuff and start over. From trying to get out there, to getting a deal, staying in mansions, doing a video, actually performing on the Lady of Soul Awards and then losing our deal, going back working a regular 9-5 job, catching the bus all of that. It was like a roller coaster. And to be able to get back, it's amazing. I'm thankful. I thank Midi Mafia, Hot City and Steve Rifkind for that.

What are your long term goals as an artist?
Shire'-I have my own acts I want to put out. I feel like you are supposed to recycle the favor. I want my own line of bags. I haven't named it yet. I love purses and bags. Of course I love the theater, I either want to write plays or hopefully write a movie or start acting soon. But I'm really into the whole behind the scenes as far as film and television. I really want to get into that.

Related Links-http://www.myspace.com/shireuniversal

Shire'-interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, and Thabiz.com 2007

Visit Dorrie on the web at www.sparkledoll.com or add her as a friend at MYSPACE.
Shire'-interview may not be reprinted, copied or distribute without permission. You may link to this interview.Interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, thabiz.com December 2007.