Best known to the general public for being one-third of Beyoncé’s background singers famously known as “The Mamas,” vocalist/songwriter Tiffany Moníque is ready to step out of the shadows with her debut EP Nemesis. On this introductory project, Tiffany collaborates with seasoned musician, producer and Beyoncé’s music programmer, Kevin “Kwiz” Ryan along with partners Marlin Smith and Tony “T-Ro” Carter of Digital Khaoss Productions.
With Nemesis, the duo has created a five-track gem that highlights Tiffany’s stylistic diversity. Ranging from the heavily hip-hop influenced title-track to the bubbly Motown grooves of “Only Love” to laidback rhythms of “When,” the first song they recorded for the project, Tiffany’s voice is majestic.
“The (title) song ‘Nemesis’ is partially influenced by meeting so many naysayers who told me I would never make it as a professional singer,” says Tiffany. A native of Tennessee, her mom moved them to Newark, New Jersey when she was five. “A few record company executives told me that although I had the talent, I didn’t have the look. And over the course of my journey, I’ve encountered others who maintained a negative outlook on the potential of my success. Nemesis expresses my determination to prevail."
Singing since the age of three, Tiffany has always been actively involved in church. “I went with my grandmother every Sunday and was involved in every ministry,” she pleasantly recalls. By the time she was in high school, Tiffany was a director in the church’s music ministry. Yet, while she knew well the songs in her hymnbook, Tiffany also found joy listening to seasoned soul singers on the radio. “Hip-hop was popular when I was a kid, but I guess even then I had an old soul,” Tiffany explains. Listening to artists like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway and Chaka Khan, for whom her Aunt Beverly once sang backgrounds, Tiffany was inspired.
“Although my mother and father could both sing, my aunt was the one who did it professionally. I remember seeing her on television once and being so excited.” Her mother, a school educator and administrator, was always encouraging, even trying to get her on television show, Star Search. Tiffany entered her first talent show at eight-years-old and amazed the rowdy audience with a version of the Whitney Houston’s ballad “You Give Good Love.”
Smiling, she says, “my mother was nervous for me, because the crowd booed almost everyone who came to the stage. But, they liked me and I won first prize.” Ten years later, Tiffany was awarded a music scholarship to Morgan State University in Baltimore. “We had a few choirs at school and I was chosen for all, including the Morgan Singers.” Tiffany’s involvement with the distinguished choir led to the opportunity to travel around the world as a member and soloist under the direction of the late Dr. Nathan Carter. One of her personal accomplishments during this time included performing a solo during Pope John Paul lI’s historical visit to the United States in 1996.
It was also during this period that Tiffany joined a local girl group called On Point. That same year, the group was featured with MCA recording artists K-Ci & Jo-Jo on the remix version of “Fee Fie Foe Fum” from their 1999 album release It’s Real. Offered a recording contract with MCA Records shortly after their development, the deal fell through due to internal management conflicts. Afterward, the group disbanded and went their separate ways. It was through this experience that Tiffany further honed her talents and decided to pursue a solo career. Earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications /Journalism, she returned to New Jersey.
Later, Tiffany began attending open mic nights at the Village Underground in Greenwich Village (New York City). “This was where, over the years, artists like Chrisette Michele, Blu Cantrell and others singers also performed,” Tiffany informs. Soon after showcasing her considerable skills, she met singer Melonie Daniels, the woman who would change the course of Tiffany’s professional life. A background singer for Mariah Carey, one day Melonie asked Tiffany if she wanted to perform with the pop diva on a BET Christmas special. “There wasn’t much interaction with Carey, but it was a great gig,” says Tiffany. More importantly, that one job led to several other background opportunities for artists such as Kenny Loggins, Christina Aguilera, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Faith Evans, Regina Belle, Michelle Williams, Carl Thomas, Avant and Mya.
In addition, Tiffany began working with various producers trying to launch a solo career. However, after having her son in 2005, she shifted her priorities and got a steady job working for a pharmaceutical company. “It was promising, but I was so miserable there because all I wanted to do was sing.” Out of the blue, she got a phone call advising that she had been selected for an international tour with Beyoncé. Reluctant of leaving her family and son who was one at the time, she decided to pursue the opportunity. “I was afraid to leave, but I felt God had sent this blessing directly. I didn’t have to audition, so I quit my job via email and kept it moving” she says. With the support of her family, who cared for her son while Tiffany was on the road, she sang with Beyoncé around every inhabitable continent. “I’ve gotten a chance to see everything I’ve ever wanted to see including the pyramids, the Great Wall of China and the man-made islands of Dubai.”
In an early rehearsal, after Beyoncé learned that all of the background vocalists and male dancers were parents, she jokingly referred to them as “The Mamas” and “The Papas.” “For the background vocalists, the name stuck. We became the ‘Mamas.’” While working with Beyoncé, she has developed an international following and participated in both the 2007 and 2009 world tours. One of the performances from the 2007 tour, “Me, Myself & I”, featured The Mamas and gained Beyoncé a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 2009 GRAMMY® Awards. In 2007, she was also featured on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered radio broadcast of “What Makes A Great Backup Singer” for her knowledge and experience as a background vocalist.
While on tour, Tiffany met Kwiz and he witnessed Tiffany stand-in for Beyoncé at sound check one afternoon and was thoroughly impressed. “I was so used to hearing her blend in as a background singer, but after hearing her sing ‘Dangerously In Love’ I realized she was a powerful soloist as well.”
Kwiz recalls, “Over time, Tiff and I became friends and talked extensively about doing a project together. So, on one of our breaks from the tour, we recorded what is now the song on this EP called “When.” That’s when my production partner Marley and I realized that Tiff was not only a dope singer, but a dope songwriter as well.”
Presenting the daring vocalist a number of tracks, Tiffany wrote all the lyrics and melodies on Nemesis. “In the beginning I was so nervous, because this was a new opportunity and I wanted to impress the team,” she says. With the stunning songs as evidence, it is obvious the talented team impressed one another. As students of music, from the Brit-soul of Loose Ends to the lyricism of Earth, Wind & Fire, Tiffany and Kwiz also pay homage to Motown, throwing a little Diana Ross sass into the stunning “Only Love,” a song Tiffany dedicated to her baby boy Jordan.
“My son knows just what to say to make me smile,” she says. “Yet, when other women hear this song I hope they think about the positive men in their lives be them fathers, brothers, uncles or sons. There are countless songs about men who do wrong; I wanted to write something about those who do right.”
One of the standout tracks on Nemesis is the melodic “Anytime,” a song about unrequited love. “Kwiz and I were in the studio trying to figure out our next move for the project. He began playing various sounds and tracks in his inventory, then he played a four-second loop of an unformed track and something sparked in me.”
“‘Anytime’ was written about a childhood crush I had on someone who was not interested, but capitalized on the attention I gave. I presume I was not his type as a child, but later in adulthood, our paths crossed and he admitted his regret. He said that he had not realized I’d turn out to be the woman I am today and that he’d always regard me as “the one that got away.”
Experimenting with various sounds and textures, “Take Your Time” opens with a spacey trip-hop soundscape that morphs into an intoxicating love song. “After writing the verses, I simply couldn’t find the words to add to the chorus,” Tiffany explains. “Usually, I would consider this writer’s block, but there was a sense of realism to this particular problem that I appreciated—a love so good, one can’t describe it. While speaking with her mom, Tiffany reflected on several songs historically that had no words in the chorus, yet the meaning behind the song was appropriately articulated. Artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Deniece Williams, and Stevie Wonder had done it, so after reflecting, she decided she didn’t want a traditional chorus for this song and simply wanted to sing the melody that came naturally.
“In ‘Take Your Time,’ a woman recognizes the comfort and security she’s found with her love and her desire to spend her time honoring and celebrating it. It portrays a bond between a woman and man that is so beautiful, words can’t be found to accurately describe it.”
Teaming with talent and innovation, Tiffany Moníque’s powerful debut Nemesis takes chances while still managing to embrace the power of traditional soul. Indeed, this is what R&B has been waiting for.
