I have also taken to MAC's new Naked Honey Body Washlike bees to (well, you know). I was able to get a preview of it (mark your calendars - it's in stores starting June 11th for $19.50) and I fell for it right away. Made from bio-converted honey (whatever the heck that is...) it smells divine and when I read the ingredients, I figured out why: lavender, narcissus, jasmine flower and blue agave extract provide the magic. There is also a matching Naked Honey Hand and Body Cream($22.50) which includes the ingredients above along with shea butter and a Naked Honey Skin Salvethat includes organic beeswax and sunflower oil.
I have mentioned more than once on my blogs that I abandoned the radio a long time ago, so I always end up discovering new (to me) artists by accident. I am an incessant Twitterer, so I guess it makes sense that I would eventually find some new music there and last February, I happily stumbled across Maiysha, a Minnesota-born singer/songwriter raised on Chicago's South Side who tends to burn the midnight oil on Twitter like me. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, the former teacher's first single (and title track) from her debut album, "Wanna Be," earned her a 2009 Grammy nomination.
Maiysha is even better known (so far) as a Ford model. In fact, she was one of the most successful plus-size models in the business - until she decided to drop 60 pounds - a decision that changed her life in many ways.
Nichelle: You are a songwriter, a lyricist. How do the songs come to you? Do you keep a notebook to sketch out ideas? Do you sing into a tape recorder? Can you hear the music as you write the lyrics or is it closer to writing poetry?
Maiysha: Songs come to me in any number of ways... conversations I have or overhear in the street, dreams, or a strong emotional response to something -- or someone. It generally starts with a lyric, sometimes just a few words. Occasionally it's the melody I latch onto first, and I just know I need to fill a certain number of syllables. Most often, I simultaneously have a bit of melody and lyric, and the challenge is to try to figure out what comes next! Though I consider my voice my only "instrument", I do own a keyboard and a couple of guitars that come in handy when I'm composing. Regardless, I always have a pad or notebook nearby -- they're all over my apartment, in every bag I carry, and next to my bed. I'm not much of a tech-head, but one of my favorite things is a little recording microphone I plug into my iPod to catch melodic ideas while they're fresh, and in a pinch, my iPhone definitely comes in handy for taking notes when I can't find a pen.
Nichelle:Your sound is not easily pegged as simply R&B or even neo-soul. You have called your music progressive soul. What is the difference?
Maiysha: "Progressive Soul" is a term that started half-jokingly, as we tried to find a term to sell to record execs when we were looking for a deal, and later, to describe our sound to journalists. In all honesty, while it's certainly much more fitting than the "R&B" or "Neo-Soul" labels, it has its own level of discomfort because it's still a label, and it's no more or less accurate than the "Urban Alternative" category I was nominated for. In a technical sense, my music is a hybrid of a lot of genres - all of which are soulful - and I hope it will continue to be. But all we ever set out to make was good music, and as long as we're doing that, I don't really care what we call it.
Nichelle: Your father is an attorney, your mother is former TV journalist, and you have proudly described yourself as a "Cosby kid". Your parents even nicknamed you Denise, because you were (as you described it) "a little quirky, with weird outfits and big hair." How has your background informed your music?
Maiysha: In truth, it took me a long time to come into myself. I was constantly trying out different personalities and styles - I still do. Initially, it was theater, and soon after, music that helped me work out a lot of those issues, and really accept myself for all that I am... which I like to say is a study in contrasts. If my music defies genres, it's because I do, too!
Nichelle: Who are some of your musical influences as a singer and who inspires you as a songwriter?
Maiysha: As a singer, I've always gravitated towards the iconic big voices: Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Tina Turner, Natalie Cole, Aretha... even Pat Benatar and Annie Lennox. But as a songwriter, I'm inspired by everything from the jazz standards and musical theater numbers I grew up singing to Prince, Joni Mitchell, Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Leonard Cohen and of course, Stevie Wonder -- and that's the short list!
Nichelle: You have mentioned in past interviews that a past abusive relationship caused you to abandon performing for several years. What finally brought you back?
Maiysha: I think there are certain points in every relationship where you find yourself choosing between the "we" and the "me". Most of them are minor, everyday choices, but at that juncture, choosing myself was my first major adult choice. It not only brought me back to my music (my first and truest love), but propelled me into being a woman.
Nichelle:You studied vocal performance as well as creative writing and race and gender studies at Sarah Lawrence and worked as a teacher. How did you go from that to a career in modeling?
Maiysha: Modeling was kind of a fluke for me -- I was desperate to pay off my student loans, and happened to be in the right place at the right time. It certainly was never a childhood dream, and even now, I sometimes struggle in front of the camera. That said, it was one of the luckiest accidents of my life, and I owe a great debt (including leaving a dysfunctional relationship, and creating this album) to what I thought was a temporary detour on my path.
Nichelle: You are one of the best known plus-size models out there and were the face for Lane Bryant for many years. Then you lost 60 pounds. How and why did you lose the weight?
Maiysha: Becoming healthy was a very personal choice and challenge for me, and it involved a great deal of risk as far as my modeling career was concerned. But I wasn't healthy, and I wasn't happy -- I'd been living with an eating disorder (compulsive overeating) most of my life, and I knew I couldn't move forward unless I addressed it. I didn't set out with any other goal in mind other than to gain control of my life, and the peace that comes with that. That's still my challenge, every day.
Nichelle:How was your modeling career affected when you lost the weight? Also, how did some of your fans react?
Maiysha: Obviously, it's difficult to maintain a career as a full-figured model when you cease to be considered full-figured by most standards. I was a size 18 at my heaviest -- now I generally hover around an 8, which basically puts you in the "limbo-land" of the fashion world. As a model, I've always been blessed to have the support and respect of some of the most devoted fans in any industry, but I couldn't make this choice about anyone else. So far, most have respected and supported me in that choice, and I'm very grateful for that. Though I was a musician first, it took a long, difficult process to abandon my safety net, and put music -- which is who I really am -- first in my life, even if it meant leaving modeling behind. But the truth is, I'm not really leaving anything or anyone behind. I'm just trying to continue to evolve, and we should all be encouraged to do that, in whatever way we need to.
Nichelle:You have been quoted as saying that working out has made your pitch better and has given you more endurance and confidence onstage. When did you start to notice a difference?
Maiysha: Admittedly, I was never even a remotely fit person before. I used to go years without setting foot in a gym; now weeks off make me nervous. It was probably after the first few months on a regular cardio routine that I started to see an improvement in my singing -- lung capacity is no small thing when you're a singer. Even now, I notice a difference when I start to slack off, not to mention that exercise just makes me more even-keeled all around (I'm a typical temperamental artist). I also found that as I became more present and proud of the body I was finally taking ownership of, I was much less self-conscious on stage. It may sound superficial, but it's easier to move and commit yourself to your performance when you're not worrying about what might be jiggling!
Nichelle: Let’s talk about the enjoyable side of food. What is your favorite food? Are you able to enjoy food without being paranoid?
Maiysha: I think food paranoia -- that "all or nothing" kind of mania we tend to subscribe to -- is the biggest pitfall for anyone trying to deal with food issues. It has undoubtedly been the source of every setback I've experienced in this process, because it sets you up for failure, and we all know that perfection is impossible. I can't say that I have a favorite food (I love too much of everything), but I hope I never stop enjoying food. The challenge for me has been learning to be consistent with what I need in my life, so that I can feel free to indulge in what I want on a regular basis. Taking care of yourself on a daily basis makes paranoia unnecessary.
Nichelle: I found a few "curly hair" videos that you did for Ford Models. What are you doing with your hair now (curly, straightened)? Also, what are some of your favorite products?
Maiysha: I'm easily bored, so I'm always switching up my look. I love how I can be transformed by a great blow-out, or a few extensions. I got a great haircut before the Grammys. It's a below-the-shoulder shag with heavy bangs, so I've been rocking that lately...but the gym and the upcoming summer season make that a hard look to do daily, so no doubt my curls will be reappearing soon. Either way, I've recently gotten into Ojon's and Carol's Daughter Hair Milk. Both have been vital in helping my over-abused hair stay healthy and shiny between appointments.
Nichelle: How about makeup - what are some of your "must have" items? Are you a big makeup fan?
Maiysha: I actually moonlighted as a makeup artist for several years while modeling, so I'm a major makeup junkie (I've got two kits full of stuff for "special occasions"!). I love super-saturated shadows (NARS is my favorite), and liquid eyeliner, but I think the skin has to come first. In addition to trying to take care of my skin, I recently fell in love with MAC's Mineralize Liquid Foundation for daily wear. I love the glow it gives my skin, while still being sheer enough to look natural (and it has SPF 15). For stage or a little more coverage, I use Kevin Aucoin's Sensual Skin Enhancer. It's not cheap, but lasts forever, and is totally worth it. Aside from that, what you'll find atop my vanity is a super-fat black eyeliner pencil (Benefit's Bad Gal), a vast array of brushes, about a dozen mascaras, and Korres' Lip Butter. Oh yeah, and a bronzer/blush duo by NARS.
Nichelle: How would you describe your personal style? Also, did it change when you lost weight?
Maiysha: To be honest, even at my heaviest, I was known as something of a "fashionista" -- I love color, high-heels, and showing off my curves (which have thankfully only been accentuated by my weight loss). Getting fit just opened up my options, and allowed me to push the envelope more, because I'm not as inhibited. Case in point: as controversial as it was (which I loved), I never would've attempted my Grammy outfit 60 lbs. ago!
Nichelle:What are you currently reading?
Maiysha: "The Little Friend" by Donna Tartt. I read and enjoyed her other bestseller, "The Secret History", so hopefully I'll dig this one too.
Nichelle: Aside from music, what inspires you?
Maiysha: I've been reading since age 3, so books definitely inspire me. Fashion inspires me. My friends inspire me. Passion -- from anger to sex -- inspires me. New York inspires me daily. Struggling inspires me. Inspiration is everywhere!
Nichelle: How do you measure success?
Maiysha: These days, I measure my success by my level of happiness. I've been broke, I've been flush, in love and alone, but I find that genuine happiness makes the particular circumstances of any moment irrelevant. So, it's the happiness I'm always seeking.
