I Ascend: Who is Mrs. TaMyya J?
 
TaMyya J: TaMyya J is a wife, mother, singer, songwriter, radio host, background singer, and someone who loves the LORD. I also love singing and reminding people to give GOD the glory wherever they are in their life.
 
 
I Ascend: How long have you been in the recording industry? Did you start as a child?
 
TaMyya J: I have been singing in the recording industry since 1998. My first professional performance I started off in a group called, “Praise”. There were a total of 5 of us in the group. Shout out to Maurice, Iesha, Ebony and Porsha which are all still doing great things. We won first place in the 1998 McDonald’s Gospel Fest where we performed at Madison Square Garden.   Yes, I started singing around four or five years old. I remember my daddy used to always say, “all right, if you get up there and sing, I’m going to take you skating”. I used to be so scared and nervous but all I knew was that I wanted to go skating and I have been singing ever since. 
 
I Ascend: What has been one of your career highlights?
 
TaMyya J: I recently just had this conversation with Erica Campbell about this on her show. I was reminiscing about singing background for Mary Mary. Having the opportunity to sing background with them was the best experience and it has been one of the biggest highlights of my journey. I have seen them do everything just right off the bat. I mean, from showmanship to professionalism to ministry, all top-notch. Everything was done with a spirit of excellence, and I got a chance to travel around the world. It was just an honor to be around and soak up all that knowledge, professionalism and wisdom.
 
I Ascend: How did that come about? How did you come together to sing with Mary Mary?
 
TaMyya J:  My mom played a significant part in that. I am from the New Jersey and Philadelphia area where they are very big on sheds. We have musical sheds where all the musicians will get together every other weekend. I remember it was Mother’s Day weekend, and there was a guy named Spanky that invited me that particular weekend. I am pretty sure people in the music industry know “Spanky” who is a drummer. He was putting on his musical shed and at that particular time, he was the drummer for Mary Mary. My mom insisted we attend the musical shed to support Spanky.  I did not know that Mary Mary would be there but when we arrived, we saw them sitting there. When Spanky saw me and my mom walk in, he told us to come sit up there with them. Spanky then asked Erica to sing, and she sang “Thank You LORD”. I was sitting there in awe, like, wait, I am at the table with Mary Mary. All of a sudden everyone was shouting for me to sing. Erica gave me the mic and we sang the song together and two days later I got a phone call from Spanky and Adam Blackstone (who was Mary Mary’s musical director at the time) asking if I would like to sing background as a soprano singer and that’s how I ended up as a background singer for Mary Mary.
 
I Ascend: This shows you how the Lord will set you up and allow you to stumble into a blessing.
 
TaMyya J: Yes, and the LORD will set it up at the right time. Please understand that the LORD’s time is so much greater than our time. I say that to say this. At that time, I had just got the job of my dreams, becoming a junior paralegal at a top law firm in Philadelphia. It wasn’t even a month of working there that I got that phone call to become a background singer.  I was so conflicted because here I am with the job of my dreams and also got the opportunity to do what I love and that’s singing. To some people they would have stayed at the dream job but that’s why it’s always good to have a good support system. I discussed it with my mom, dad and everyone around me and they were not like, ‘you better stay at that job’. They laid out the pros and cons and they pushed me and said the experience of singing like that, you may never know if the opportunity will come again. I am grateful for my support team and I praise the LORD for my parents for always pushing me. Now that I look back it was the BEST decision I could have made.
 
 
I Ascend: Can you expound a bit on what a musical shed is?
 
 
TaMyya J: Okay, a musical shed is when all the musicians come together, and they play. It’s basically a non-stop musical session. Everybody can come and enjoy the music. It’s like a ten-hour musical. Singers can come too and sing. It’s a good vibe with good music.
 
I Ascend: In regards to the paralegal position did you ever go back to that?
 
TaMyya J: When I got married to my husband, and we moved to Virginia and I saw how much paralegals were getting paid out in VA. I said, no, we will put that on the back burner. I dibbled and dabbled but no, I have not gone back to that.
 
I Ascend: What hardships have you faced or encountered in Ascending to where you are currently?
 
TaMyya J: I recently witnessed a very tragic situation at a Walmart in Chesapeake, VA. I was at the Walmart store location when they had the mass shooting. From my understanding it made the world news. I will say that was the worst experience in my life. Sometimes when I think about it, I tear up and I cry. Just hearing the screams and the gunshots is something that you would never, ever want to go through. When I was running out of that Walmart, I knew that GOD had a purpose for me. I called on the name of JESUS, I said, “JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS,” I knew that when GOD saved me from that, and I got out of there alive, I knew that HE still had a purpose for me. We have to keep spreading the name of JESUS everywhere and every chance we get. And can I say this, we all watch these situations on the news and it seems like it’s a shooting every day and after we watch it we change the channel and go on about our day but since I have experienced that first hand my heart goes out to the ones that can’t change the channel mentally and emotionally. I will always pray for those that have been affected.
 
I Ascend: I am glad that you are okay, and I pray for the families who lost loved ones during this
tragedy.
 
I Ascend: Who served as your cushion and support team during this and your most challenging times?
 
TaMyya J: I would have to say my husband, my mom, my amazing team, Maurice Williams, and my sister Donyale. I have a really close-knit family. They are a great support and have never wavered.
 
I Ascend: How long have you been married, and what advice do you have for those ready to take the
leap?
 
TaMyya J: I have been married for thirteen years. We just celebrated thirteen years two weeks ago. I would tell any couple always to have the Lord as their focal point. Marriage is like an investment you have to keep managing. It’s not as simple as you getting married, and that’s it. There is much compromise and sacrifice involved. I encourage couples to go on marriage retreats and attend some marriage conferences. Consider it a tune-up. If your relationship is fine, it is still a tune-up, and you get better. If you are at your low moment in the marriage, get counseling. Marriage has its ups and downs but going thru the journey of life with the mate GOD blessed you with can be so rewarding if you put in the work.
 
I Ascend: What have these experiences taught you in terms of having that support team?
 
TaMyya J: I praise GOD that I do have an amazing support team. My team is really my family, and I am able to fall on them when I need help. It is so good to just have someone be in your presence when you are going through it, and they do not even have to say anything, being there is enough. Moments like that, for me, help me get through. To just come together to be in each other’s company is a blessing. We like to go to this one little place in New Jersey’s Cherry Hill area. We go to the bistro and just have a good time. For them just being there means a lot. Of course, having that alone time with the LORD and reading GOD’s word is top priority. I have noticed that you can read things in the Bible and sometimes you don’t get a clear understanding the 1st time, and then you later go back to it, and “Okay, I get it.” I hear you speaking LORD. I didn’t get it last time, but I got it this time.” I would have to say having that support system, and standing on the Word, and allowing GOD to show things to you about yourself thru the Word is amazing. Things that you might need to cut off, or things that you might need to tighten up on, and things you need to get together in your life. Also, sometimes GOD will use my team as confirmation for things HE has already revealed to me. They can share something with me that GOD has already spoken to me about. To be able to have that support team who also trust in the LORD and that prays for me and with me is an awesome thing.
 
I Ascend: What is an additional talent that you have that nobody knows about?
 
TaMyya J: I LOVE décor, event planning and parties. I love to decorate homes. I do that on the side as well.
 
I Ascend: Wonderful, so you plan parties and various events?
 
TaMyya J: Yes. I put on concerts too as well as production. I love production and all the backstage stuff that brings everything together. I love to see the finished products of a production and stage décor of events.

I Ascend: What advice would you like to share with indie artists?
 
TaMyya J: I will say, stay consistent. Indie right now is winning. There are so many open doors now for indie artists. If you have different gifts, use those as well. Doing things one way is not the only way when it comes to being an indie artist. So being consistent and of course keeping GOD first in everything that you do, and letting the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you is key. Allow GOD to lead you to the right doors and do it HIS way. Stay prayed up when it comes to that, but the biggest takeaway will be to stay consistent. Everything you do for Christ lasts, do it in excellence.
 
I Ascend: What does your creative process look like?
 
TaMyya J: When it comes to writing I can have a theme to a song or I can come up with lyrics while driving in the car, and then when I get home, I will jot down what I remember. I will sometimes create my verses before I even hear the music. Usually, it always starts with a theme first, and then the rest follows.
 
I Ascend: How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
 
TaMyya J: I believe it has been both, good and bad. I would say it has created more opportunities to promote yourself. It has given a broader platform to promote ministry and to share JESUS. When it comes to social media, I am terrible with social media. I mean, I really am, but I know that it is a necessity when it comes to this music business.  
 
I Ascend: Tell us about the radio program you have operated for over a decade.
 
TaMyya J: Sure, in 2008, I started the “Never Missed a Beat” radio show and my first station was WEHA 88.7FM and 100.3FM out of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Shout-out to my W.E.H.A family!  From there it then grew nationally and internationally. I am now syndicated on Rejoice Musical Soul Food and Power Worship Radio 92.5FM Grenada. GOD is good; he has definitely moved “Never Missed a Beat with TaMyya J” bigger than where it started. So, staying consistent was important, and I am really excited about that.
 
I Ascend: Please share some of the projects that you are currently working on. How can our readers stay abreast of all that you are doing and where can we tune into the program?
 
 
TaMyya J: I am excited that my latest single “Feel The Rain” is out now. I will be doing a mission trip to Grenada shortly as well as performing. I am also working on my third album now. I am really excited because we have different sounds for everyone, and I have some collaborations that I cannot give away yet. It will be coming out very soon. I will keep everybody updated on all my social media @Tamyyaj. And be sure to visit my website: tamyyaj.com
You can always tune in to my radio show Monday through Friday on Rejoice Musical Soul Food from 7:00pm (est) to 12:00am(est) and also on Power of Worship radio, Wednesdays at 4:00pm(est) and Saturdays at 4:00pm(est). You can also visit my website and see all the stations “Never Missed a Beat Radio Show” is aired on.
 
I Ascend: As we wrap up, please share with readers a memorable “Mary Mary” experience from one of the wonderful places that you had the opportunity to travel to.
 
TaMyya J: For me, it would be Africa, we went there twice. I loved it both times. The best experience I remember was us singing in this big arena that held thousands of people and we were on stage and it began to rain and the electricity went out and I mean it poured down raining. We just kept singing songs, worshiping in the rain. Literally, in the pouring rain, for about an hour and a half. It was so amazing to experience that type of worship. You don’t see that everywhere. Most people would have left and the concert would have ended in most cases.
 
I Ascend: The worship kept on going, I hear hunger.
 
TaMyya J: I mean true, worship, that was the best. It was so amazing.