With her new CD, Jamaican artist Tami Chynn makes the bold move from reggae to pop. Aided by producers Red One and Akon, she has crafted a unique synthesis of R&B/pop that you can dance to while keeping her message intact. With remixes of the lead single "Frozen" by Mark Picchiotti and Ralphi Rosario and a performance at the International DJ Expo in Atlantic City, Tami is definitely ready to make us dance.
DJ Ron Slomowicz: What I'm gathering is that you have an Asian background, but
you were born in Jamaica, and started off singing reggae. Is that
close to being right?
Tami Chynn: Well, this album is not a reggae album. I've done a
reggae album before. That was my whole claim to fame in Jamaica. It's
how I started my ground roots in Jamaica. Now I'm doing a pop album
because that's what I wanted to do, ultimately. So yes, it's kind of
close.
RS: I want to talk a little bit about your reggae background
before you get into the current stuff. How did you discover reggae,
and how did it become part of your vibe?
Tami Chynn: Well, growing up in Jamaica, I listened to everything. A
lot of people think that just because I'm Jamaican, I just listen to
reggae and dancehall. But that wasn't the case for me. I'm in a really
musical family who appreciate all types of music. We grew up listening
to everything, and reggae just was a part of it, and I infuse it into
my music. But when I was doing the reggae style stuff, it always
incorporated a pop vibe, and R&B vibe. I always like to mix it up, so
I was never doing straight reggae or straight dancehall. I was just
kind of infusing it into what I like to do.
RS: And you worked with Shaggy, didn't you?
Tami Chynn: I did, but I was a dancer when I worked with Shaggy. I
went on tour with him for a little while as a dancer to kind of feel
out the road and get a taste for live performances in a different
arena. It gave me a chance to go on tour, and wet my chops for
performing on stage, so to speak.
RS: And then you also did some work with Sean-Paul?
Tami Chynn: I did a collaboration with Sean on his last album, The
Trinity, and that was pretty cool. We performed it a couple of times
together. I haven't been on tour with Sean, but who knows what can
happen in the future.
RS: Very cool. So, your first album was more reggae and your new
CD, Prima Donna, is more pop?
Tami Chynn: Right.
