Ms. Issa - Is it all a dream?

Interviewed by Maine
For
HipHopHavoc.com

Diversity breeds innovation, and with that being said; we want to break the mold of the typical R&B artist and introduce you to a singer that’s cut from a different cloth. Ms. Issa Bayaua, who owes her roots to a Latina/Filipina background, is making waves with the hot “Stay Up” single featuring Fat Joe.
From the days of singing in the parks, the little lady from San Diego is demanding attention and is headed for the center stage. Hear her feelings on Jim Jones, how she linked up with Fat Joe for the hot “Stay Up”, and what separates her from all the rest. So join us as we experience Ms. Issa.

HHH: Ms. Issa, I’m trying 2 get a little info on you. I see you are a new artist and I see you did the single with Joe (Fat Joe). How’d you link up with Joe?

Ms.Issa: My manager has connections in the industry, that’s how we got Fat Joe. We sent Fat Joe like 3 tracks and he likes “Stay Up” a lot. So he did his thing on “Stay Up”.

HHH: Joe seems 2 take more chances with new artists and R&B, than other rap artist.

Ms. Issa: I kinda see a little bit of both, you know. I see him on the Pitbull track, the joint with Lil’ Wayne, “Make it Rain”

HHH: Can you give me some info on your background?

Ms. Issa: I was 5 years old when my mom started training me. It wasn’t what I really wanted to do at that time, but I would do it anyway because I was a kid and that’s what she wanted for me to do. She would send me to parks, I would sing for people in the park, sometimes a couple hundred people; during Easter or something. Later on I started to feel that this wasn’t what I wanted to do, and she kind of sensed that from me and she stopped working with me in that way cause she thought I wanted to be a comedian. Sixteen, Seventeen rolled around, I started watching BET, I wanted to sing. I was in awe when I would see people sing on television and I knew exactly, that’s what I wanted to do. In between the time that my mom thought I didn’t want to sing, I would still sing, just not in parks. That’s when I came out here 2 years ago and tried my luck and now here I am.

HHH: Where are you originally from?

Ms. Issa: Born & raised in San Diego, CA.

HHH: So what’s going to separate you from the other female artist coming out?

Ms. Issa: Pretty much my music, my style, my craft, my personality; how I bring things 2 life. I think that all has a part to play in me being separated from other artists. I think the only other thing I can do on top of that, is just be myself. You know, I honestly think that separates me from other artists.

HHH: I think that’s a very good answer, a lot of people try 2 focus on what people want, instead of being themselves.

Ms. Issa: That’s what people want, they want you 2 be yourself; they don’t want you to try and mimic Beyonce or Alicia Keys. They want you to be yourself, your voice is your own identity, it’s like a thumb print. People are going 2 accept you & love you 4 who u are.

HHH: I think that’s why we have a lot more independent labels and artist making it in the industry a lot more now, cause people recognize when you’re genuine.

Ms. Issa: It’s not easy being an independent label, there are a lot of limitations and down falls. It doesn’t get a lot of respect, like the major record labels do.

HHH: When can we expect the album to drop?

Ms. Issa: The album should be dropping like Mid-April. The only reason is we got another collaboration, I have a single coming out, it’s called “Let Me Be the One”. It’s a remake of Expose’s from back in the 80’s; we have Jim Jones on that track.

HHH: Jimmy’s hot right now.

Ms. Issa: Jimmy’s very hot. He’s a real cool person, real down to earth. I’m happy he’s trying to help a new artist coming out, I know it’s cause he knows it’s not easy coming out.

HHH: 4sure he's been on the grind 4 a minute.

HHH: Do you mind me asking your nationality? I seen your pictures and your pretty attractive.

Ms. Issa: My pops is from the Philippines, and my moms is Mexican.

HHH: What’s the plans for touring?

Ms. Issa: I’ve had a lot of offers so far, it’s just a matter of getting the right one for me. What’s going to benefit me, but we’re still in discussion at this time.

HHH: Ok, just keep Chicago on the map.

Ms. Issa: Yeah, I wanna go out to Chicago, I heard they have some good pizza.

HHH: Who were some of your influences growing up?

Ms. Issa: My mother was my major influence growing up; she was the person that got me hooked on singing. Gladys Knight, you know a bunch of Motown artist from back in the day. Besides my mother, Whitney, Mariah Carey, Gladys Knight, the list just goes on.

HHH: Ok, you talking real singers, real singing.

Ms. Issa: Yeah, I like using my vocals and the CD I have out right now definitely showcases Issa. This is my first CD, I was scared, they threw me in the studio raw, I’ve only been singing professionally for a year. So my next CD I want to unleash, I want people to see who Issa is.

HHH: What gave you the courage to go for it, what made you decide to say this is what I’m going 2 do.

Ms. Issa: I guess it was just building up from when I was little, cause I was always singing. One day I saw an advertisement for UPN Are You the Girl? and I was like, “I gotta do this.” For some reason I gotta do this, and I never auditioned in my whole entire life, for anything, so that was like a big deal for me. It’s still scary when I look back on it.

HHH: 4sho, at the same time you gotta go 4 what you believe.

Ms. Issa: When you first do something like that you don’t have a lot of confidence, versus someone whose been doing that for a long time, so my confidence got really hurt I was surrounded by a lot of girls that did that for a living, and I kinda lost a little confidence in myself at that point. But through perseverance I got a spot on Are You the Girl? My confidence boosted right back up, and I got a solo deal.

HHH: Outside of music, what other interest do you have?

Ms. Issa: I want to have my own clothing line, that should be coming out by the end of the year; I also want to get into acting. It’s so many things, but it’s baby steps right now.

HHH: So we can look 2 hear from Ms. Issa in the future on several stages. Thank you as always.