Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, singer Tasha LaRae didn't have too many ideas of grandeur in terms of her musical path. She knew she loved singing, but Omaha wasn't ready for the uncontainable amounts of talent she possessed. Speech of Arrested Development, however, was. The classically trained opera singer caught his attention at a church function after she had relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. That was it. Since 2008, she's been touring and recording with the internationally celebrated hip-hop group. When she's not doing that, she's working on her own solo material. While touring with the group, she wrote and recorded music for The Tasha LaRae, which she released independently. With musical influences such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Whitney Houston, Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Jill Scott, and Tina Turner, her unique blend of rock, soul, R&B, and jazz is intoxicating. The colorful and charismatic singer took some time to discuss teaming up with Arrested Development, becoming a confident woman and the out-of-body experience she had the first time she performed with them.
RAPstation (Kyle Eustice): How did you link up with Arrested Development?
Tasha LaRae: I was singing background vocals for a friend at her church function and Speech was the DJ for the evening. Speech asked my friend for my email address. I didn't get the chance to meet him that night so he messaged me the next day about auditioning for the group. I was super excited for the opportunity and almost eight years later, we continue to share some unforgettable experiences together.
What was that moment like the first time you performed with them?
It was really like an out-of-body experience. Each of the members treated me as if I was an original member from jump street and our collective stage chemistry supported that. At various points in the show I was like, "I can't believe this is really happening right now [laughs]." Funny thing is I still do that eight years later.
What's your favorite Arrested Development song to sing?
One of my favorite songs to sing is "Let Your Voice Be Heard." It's from our 2010 album release called Strong. I'm especially attached to this song because it's the first record I wrote and recorded on with my bandmates. All of us writing and creating in the same room was a very magical moment for me. It was monumental for me to be able to add my stamp in the Arrested Development legacy through songwriting and recording. I was blessed to write on a vast majority of the songs, including "Let Your Voice Be Heard." The lyric is very bold and in your face without being pushy: "Beautiful people, around the world, stand up for what you believe in. Open up your mouth, say it loud and proud, let your voice be heard." If that's not a call-to-action, I don't know what is.
Why did you initially gravitate towards Georgia?
My Mom made me move to Georgia. Once I graduated high school, she told me I had one year of college at University of Nebraska at Omaha and then I had to pack up because we were all moving to Georgia. I had no say in the matter as my Mom is huge on family staying close together. Omaha was a safe and comfortable place for me. Georgia was full of things I didn't know and I was afraid of it for the first six months. But after that, you couldn't pay to me move back home. My understanding of the world and what was really possible for me completely changed when I moved here.
I imagine you like a lot more music than just hip-hop. What other types of music do you enjoy?
I like listening to soft rock, world music, disco, house, jazz, some country, R&B, soul, funk, and classical music. Variety is the spice of life - to some degree.
As a woman, do you ever feel pressure to look or act a certain way?
When I was first introduced to the music industry, I definitely felt that way. But I also knew that wasn't how my personality and lifestyle was set up. I spent a lot of my school years trying to change my personality or the way I looked to fit in with the in crowd. But by the time I hit my junior and senior year in high school, I embraced my uniqueness and dared anybody to judge me because of them. I definitely don't fit the "it type" when it comes to the A-list level of the music industry, but I stand bold, confident and proud every time. I take the stage knowing that I've remained true to myself and I'm presenting my true self 100 percent every time.
What are you working on now?
As I continue to tour with Arrested Development and do voice coaching, I'm completing my second solo EP release, entitled Light, which is targeted to be release by spring of 2016. I plan to be traveling about three times as much as before in 2016 and 2017 doing what I love doing most: singing.
Check out http://www.tashalarae.com/ for up-to-date information on solo engagements and http://arresteddevelopmentmusic.com/ for more on the band.
Tasha LaRae from Arrested Development: The RAPstation Interview
Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, singer Tasha LaRae didn't have too many ideas of grandeur in terms of her musical path. She knew she loved singing, but Omaha wasn't ready for the uncontainable amounts of talent she possessed. Speech of Arrested Development, however, was. The classically trained opera singer caught his attention at a church function after she had relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. That was it. Since 2008, she's been touring and recording with the internationally celebrated hip-hop group. When she's not doing that, she's working on her own solo material. While touring with the group, she wrote and recorded music for The Tasha LaRae, which she released independently. With musical influences such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Whitney Houston, Earth Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Jill Scott, and Tina Turner, her unique blend of rock, soul, R&B, and jazz is intoxicating. The colorful and charismatic singer took some time to discuss teaming up with Arrested Development, becoming a confident woman and the out-of-body experience she had the first time she performed with them.
RAPstation (Kyle Eustice): How did you link up with Arrested Development?
Tasha LaRae: I was singing background vocals for a friend at her church function and Speech was the DJ for the evening. Speech asked my friend for my email address. I didn't get the chance to meet him that night so he messaged me the next day about auditioning for the group. I was super excited for the opportunity and almost eight years later, we continue to share some unforgettable experiences together.
What was that moment like the first time you performed with them?
It was really like an out-of-body experience. Each of the members treated me as if I was an original member from jump street and our collective stage chemistry supported that. At various points in the show I was like, "I can't believe this is really happening right now [laughs]." Funny thing is I still do that eight years later.
What's your favorite Arrested Development song to sing?
One of my favorite songs to sing is "Let Your Voice Be Heard." It's from our 2010 album release called Strong. I'm especially attached to this song because it's the first record I wrote and recorded on with my bandmates. All of us writing and creating in the same room was a very magical moment for me. It was monumental for me to be able to add my stamp in the Arrested Development legacy through songwriting and recording. I was blessed to write on a vast majority of the songs, including "Let Your Voice Be Heard." The lyric is very bold and in your face without being pushy: "Beautiful people, around the world, stand up for what you believe in. Open up your mouth, say it loud and proud, let your voice be heard." If that's not a call-to-action, I don't know what is.
Why did you initially gravitate towards Georgia?
My Mom made me move to Georgia. Once I graduated high school, she told me I had one year of college at University of Nebraska at Omaha and then I had to pack up because we were all moving to Georgia. I had no say in the matter as my Mom is huge on family staying close together. Omaha was a safe and comfortable place for me. Georgia was full of things I didn't know and I was afraid of it for the first six months. But after that, you couldn't pay to me move back home. My understanding of the world and what was really possible for me completely changed when I moved here.
I imagine you like a lot more music than just hip-hop. What other types of music do you enjoy?
I like listening to soft rock, world music, disco, house, jazz, some country, R&B, soul, funk, and classical music. Variety is the spice of life - to some degree.
As a woman, do you ever feel pressure to look or act a certain way?
When I was first introduced to the music industry, I definitely felt that way. But I also knew that wasn't how my personality and lifestyle was set up. I spent a lot of my school years trying to change my personality or the way I looked to fit in with the in crowd. But by the time I hit my junior and senior year in high school, I embraced my uniqueness and dared anybody to judge me because of them. I definitely don't fit the "it type" when it comes to the A-list level of the music industry, but I stand bold, confident and proud every time. I take the stage knowing that I've remained true to myself and I'm presenting my true self 100 percent every time.
What are you working on now?
As I continue to tour with Arrested Development and do voice coaching, I'm completing my second solo EP release, entitled Light, which is targeted to be release by spring of 2016. I plan to be traveling about three times as much as before in 2016 and 2017 doing what I love doing most: singing.
Check out http://www.tashalarae.com/ for up-to-date information on solo engagements and http://arresteddevelopmentmusic.com/ for more on the band.
