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RHEAsings.com
RHEA on myspace
RHEA on the radio

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Arturo Tappin
Bevan Springer
Saran Nurse
Noel Malcolm
Sarah Rogers

Full Interviews

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Calypso Dreams
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Rupee 1 2
Russell Rickford
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Terry Arthur
Tony Tempo

RHEA interviewed by Jouvay.com. New York, Sept 3rd, 2006.

"It's a passion that I have for singing and for music. At a very young age I left Toronto and said I am going to make this happen. That's what keeps me going. It's knowing that I have a goal and a dream and knowing that nothing is going to stop me from achieving it. I am doing the online marketing with the blog and everything to get a fan base. For people to see that I am actually doing this and that hard work pays off ."

RHEA
NY, NY 2006

Rhea is beautiful!! This Guyanese born, Toronto bred, Boston schooled and NY based singer, songwriter is charting her way to the top of the music scene and blogs that progress for everyone to enjoy. Professionally trained at the Berklee College of Music, Rhea blends R&B, pop and jazz with plans to venture into the soca/reggae riddims of the Caribbean. You've probably heard her voice on a famous TV advertisment, or more recently blowing up the FLOW 93.5 charts in Toronto. With an agressive internet based promotional campaign Rhea brings you new music and new videos of her recording time, editing time, marketing time and partying time. As she says, "This will eventually bloom into something big and people can watch it."

Jouvay.com: We first heard about you through Bevan Springer who did an interview with you on WLIB back in April of this year (2006). Arturo Tappin also sent your web site link saying you were a great singer and Guyanese...and you know Arturo loves Guyanese. When did you realize you that singing was your talent?

RHEA: When I was very young I loved signing and acting and doing plays and it was just something that I did around the house. When I was in high school I joined the choir and started training. I went to school in Boston for music and it just became my passion.

JC: And in Boston at the Berklee College of Music, how did you like hat?

RHEA: I really liked it. It was a good learning experience. I met alot of very interesting people. In fact Arturo was at Berklee before me and saw me perform once so when I went to the jazz festival in Barbados I met him and he remembered me. It's a great place to meet people and reconnect in the word after that.

JC: I was living in Northern California and Joshua Redman and Goapele are popular Berklee alums. Did you sing at Wally's when you were there?

RHEA: No. I went to alot of shows there, but never sat in with a band.

JC: I did undergrad in Boston so Wally's (was owned by a Barbadian back then) was the spot. They would let you in without ID. As soon as you arrived in New York you landed a big advertising gig.

RHEA: When I first moved to New York I started in the advertising industry singing commercials. I had a really big American Express commercial and from until now I have written and sang a Superbowl commercial for P-Diddy. It's a diet pepsi commercial. That whole thing has transitioned into alot bigger, but it is still singing and what I love to do.

JC: So when you moved here you were pushing your singing career. What genre?

RHEA: R&B and a little pop. I also sing Jazz. I am trying to fuse everything together. The commercial industry allowed me to sing and allowed me to be in a creative environment while I was doing my own work as an artist. I still do it every once in a while, and it's a good transition into what I want to do.

JC: And how is that going?

RHEA: It's going really really well. I have a song called "It's Yours" on the radio in Toronto right now. It's getting tons of attention and I am really happy about that. It's one of my favorite songs. I also have other songs on my web site, RHEAsings.com and I have a blog that I do which is like a reality TV show. That features alot of my new material and shows me in the studio doing my stuff. I am just trying to work my hardest to make my dreams come through

JC: Where do you get that drive and motivation to keep going?

RHEA: It's something that is inside me. It's a passion that I have for singing and for music. At a very young age I left Toronto and said I am going to make this happen. That's what keeps me going. It's knowing that I have a goal and a dream and knowing that nothing is going to stop me from achieving it.

JC: Your blog is very good. Not many artists do that and understand how to captivate your audience. You are opening up your world to people on how things are done.

RHEA: Thank you.

JC: You mentioned that you saw Arturo at the jazz festival in Barbados. Were you performing there?

RHEA: No, I went with my mom. It was my first time in Barbados and at the jazz festival. It was so amazing, I have to go back next year. Great performers and I would love to perform there in the future.

JC: We'll get back to that in a minute. I know that you performed with Arturo on Father's Day at the Pan Jazz show at Lincoln Center. I heard you were a hit.

RHEA: It was so successful. Everything fell into place. I met Arturo and he invited me to do the show. I was a special guest artist and the band were impeccable. Great energy. My dad came. So it was special.

JC: We will talk about the Guyanese connection in a second because your parents are Guyanese

RHEA: I was born there.

JC: Excellent. Have you performed in the Caribbean as yet?

RHEA: No, I have not. I hope to soon. I need to go over there and get a fan base and show people what I am doing..

JC:You would get a huge fan base because you sing very well, and you look great. A birdie told me, actually Arturo said to tell you that BET jazz asked him to perform in the Cayman islands at their festival in December and he needs a singer and that you are at the top of his list for singers to accompany him. Natalie Cole is headlining.

RHEA: That is so exciting.

JC: He said RHEA is at the top of my list for alot of things. Hahahahaha. Just kidding. That would be great if we could see you in the Cayman Islands on December 2nd, 2006. That would be your first show in the Caribbean.

RHEA: Yes!!! I would love that.

JC: So, have you been back to Guyana?

RHEA: No, I actually have never been back since we left. I was three years old when we left. My mom and brother recently went back. We don't have family there now, but I definitely want to see it and see where I am from.

JC: There's a large Guyanese population in Toronto so you probably are exposed to alot of the food and culture.

RHEA: Yes. I don't have a large family, but most have moved to Toronto from Guyana. It's a good network with lots of West Indians in general.

JC: There's a place where Arturo plays whenever he goes down there called the Sidewalk Cafe. That might be the spot for you to start. Other than the Lincoln Jazz Father's Day concert, do you do anything else with the Caribbean?

RHEA: I did a Guyana Day about three months ago and I sang the anthem there....the American one. I take part in things here and there, but I am definitely updated on things. I actually did the Dahved Levy show with Arturo. That's become my new thing.

JC: We were just listening to him on the way in here (6-10 pm on Saturday evening on WBLS in NY. Not to mention that he had DJ Malcolm X and Ramses in the studio promoting the Labor Day Bajan Invasion, but did not have any of their or cropover 2006 music). Are you into soca?

RHEA: I love soca and I just came back from Caribana in Toronto which was great.

JC: Did you go in costume?

RHEA: No, I did not. I have never done that.

JC: We have to take you to carnival.

RHEA: I would love to.

JC: Do you go to any of the big soca events?

RHEA: No, I have not been to any around here. In Orlando, where my managers live, they have a West Indian community there and I have been to some Caribbean events.

JC: I actually went to the Orlando carnival this year. It was small, but they had Machel Montano and Shurwayne Winchester and they were very good performances. So, enjoy that. You were at the Quad Studio today, which is probably the number one recording studio in NY. What are you working on now?

RHEA: It was a new song for myself. It's a really interesting beat and I wrote the lyrics with one of my managers who is also a songwriter. We'll probably finish it up over the next few days.

Jouvay.com: You have a CD coming out soon?

RHEA: I am working on a CD right now, but I am trying to get the right combination of my songs. I am doing the online marketing with the blog and everything to get a fan base. For people to see that I am actually doing this and that hard work pays off . This will eventually bloom into something big and people can watch it.

JC: Who are your main producers?

RHEA: Right now I am working with Eric Sanicola. He's the number one guy right now. He's an amazing young person who writes, produces and engineers. I also did a song with some producers from Sweeden called the HITnotics. I am just getting an arsenal of people and working with everyone that I can who has hot hot hot music.

JC: Have you ever considered working with some Caribbean producers?

RHEA: Yes, actually when I was in Toronto the last time I did some radio stuff and I met with Derek Brin who is pretty well known in Toronto. So, I will do some songs with him. He's Caribbean.

JC: I don't know him, but I see his myspace account. Some of the Caribbean artists have crossed over into the R&B market (Rupee, Kevin Lyttle, Rihanna) and the producers are also doing beats that crossover. It would be nice if you could work with them. We will put you in touch with some of them like Peter Coppin out of Barbados (and of course Neil Bernard out of Trinidad). That network, especially with Arturo there, could be very good if you have not tapped into it as yet.

RHEA: Actually I had a wonderful radio interview in Orlando with Natural Mystic and we had such a wonderful time. And they fell in love with one of my songs, Damn Right. So I gave them the vocals and they remixed it to a soca riddim and it is excellent. I will have it on my blog soon (or you can listen to it here: ). So, all of you soca producers out there you need to send me your stuff and put me on your riddims.

JC: I always have discussions with Arturo about female role models from the Caribbean and how much they are needed. How about female artists like Alison Hinds from the Caribbean. Do you know her music?

RHEA:Yes, and I actually read her interview on your web site and learnt some stuff I did not know. Nicholas Branker, a producer she works with, was actually on the show for Father's Day so I got to meet him. I would also like to work with him.

JC: He is a big Barbadian producer and he plays with Arturo for Roberta Flack. There's so much music coming out of Barbados. Eddy Grant, who is also Guyanese, has a recording studio down there. Let's see, what else can we talk about?

RHEA: I really look towards Stevie Wonder. I love his songs and his voice and I feel a connection with him as an artist. I just did a dedication to Hurricane Katrina that was one of his songs (You and I) and it's on my blog. I also have a remix to a song I did called Damn Right that's on my myspace account. Eric Sanicola produced it and I did the song with Atiba of Dark Child Records. He is one of the hottest reggae sngers / rappers. His style is so original and so fresh. He laced me with averse and it's amazing. I'll be in the studio with him this weekend to do a duet for his album.

JC: So do you track your downloads etc. from your site?

RHEA: Yes, my management is on top of everything so we know where our hits are coming from. The internet has allowed everyone to be accessible. There are alot of people from all over the world that check it out.

JC: Well, we checked it out and got in touch with you very easily. Thanks so much for this interview. We will see you in carnival in costume soon.

RHEA:Yes, I will put it on my blog.

JC: Somebody needs to give you the cutest free costume.

RHEA: Yes, I will be on top of the float in a princess crown.

Jouvay.com: And we will see you in the Cayman Islands on December 2nd. Some parting words for us?

RHEA: This is Rhea, the Guyanese girl. Follow me for my online show at rheasings.com. You can see all off my studio sessions, my performances, get to know me as a singer and check back every day and leave comments because I update my blog regularly. Big shout out to jouvay.com for this wonderful interview and thank you to Maya. Check out jouvay.com and rheasings.com and rhea.ns4life.com.