Showstopper: Miss Issa Bayaua
Aspiring singers will argue that there's no such thing as overnight success unless you happen to be a finalist on "American Idol." In most cases, it takes years of performing and auditioning before an artist breaks through to mainstream success.Some entertainers spend a lifetime waiting for their big break knowing that they may only get one chance to launch their careers. Miss Issa (pronounced eye-za) Bayaua definitely knows how to take advantage of an opportunity when one comes around.
The 25-year-old San Diego native is rapidly gaining national attention both for her singing talent and for her sultry good looks. In the summer of 2006, Issa released her first single, "Stay Up," featuring rapper Fat Joe, which was accompanied by a steamy music video. The upbeat dance groove drew heavy airplay and her second single, a remake of 80s band Expose's hit "Let Me Be The One" featuring rapper Jim Jones, came out this April. Issa's debut album, Hurt No More, is set to be released on the Bungalow/Universal label in September.Issa began singing at the age of five when her mother would have her perform at local family gatherings. Issa eventually lost interest in singing until her late teens when she started watching other singers perform on BET and MTV. It was then that she first felt destined for a musical career. After high school, Issa moved to Houston where she spent six years trying to "find her sense of direction" before eventually journeying to Los Angeles to pursue an entertainment career.
In late 2004, the half Filipino-half Mexican singer auditioned for the group TLC's reality television show "R U the Girl," and was quickly offered a role. However, she ultimately decided against joining the show fearing the contract would limit her future options. Fortunately, that experience led to a meeting with music producer Kairi Brown who was impressed enough with Issa's vocal skills and ambitious drive to sign her to a recording contract.
Issa considers herself a perfectionist by nature and claims to feel comfortable holding off pursuing romantic relationships while she focuses on her career. Issa enjoys the feeling of performing in front of a live audience so she hopes to tour extensively soon. The industry newcomer also plans to parlay her recent success into her own designer clothing and makeup product lines.
In an exclusive interview with YOUNG MONEY, Miss Issa shared how she got her big break, what it takes to record an album and her advice for today's young adults.
You got started performing in public as a young girl. Did it occur to you that you'd be singing professionally at some point?
Not at all. I was such a little girl and that was pretty much what my mom wanted me to do. So I was just doing what I was told because I was a young girl. It didn't dawn on me. If I had known that I was going to be a singer, then I would have prepared myself for it and done a whole lot more. I was just being a kid back then.
What did you do after high school?
After high school I moved out to Texas for a while just to find a sense of direction and find what I wanted to do. It just wasn't working out there for me so I decided to come out to LA, the land of opportunities, and that's what I did.
In 2004, you auditioned for TLC's TV reality show "RU the Girl?" Were you one of the finalists?
I was one of the top finalists but I decided not to go through with it because I didn't agree with the contract. I had a friend who knew a friend that had worked in the music industry for a very long time. He got a hold of the contract. We read through it together and it was just something that we didn't agree with. He ended up actually becoming my manager.
It worked out great for you, but you kind of took a gamble by passing up a spot on a TV show.
I think that everything happens for a reason because to be honest with you I wasn't prepared for that show. Mentally, I wasn't prepared for it. I didn't want to be put on television and be made fun of because I wasn't focused. There were a lot of things that you had to do as far as rapping and I don't rap. It would've been scary for me.
Afterwards, Kairi Brown saw the potential in you and signed you to his record label.
Yes. He asked me to sing for him and we've been pushing it ever since to try to get me out there [in the music industry].
Tell us about the making of the album. Where you involved in the song writing?
Yes. Oh, yeah (laughs). Gotta be involved in that.
What was the most difficult part seeing as this was a new experience for you?
The difficult part was writing because I've never written my own songs before, so it was kind of hard for me to learn how to write and be creative with it. I'm still getting the experience and I guess four or five years from now I'll have everything down pat and I won't need any help.
How long has it taken to put the album together?
It's probably been about a year. We were really shopping for all the right beats and trying to make my sound [match] my style. It took a good while and I didn't work with top producers out there. I worked with up and coming producers like Big Bert, Del Pearson and Donald Blake to name a few.
Your first single "Stay Up" did really well. What sort of effect did that have on your career?
It opened up a lot more doors for me. I was getting more magazine interviews. A lot of people were starting to hit me up on MySpace (myspace.com/issabayaua) and they would use "Stay Up" as the new [dance] anthem out there. A lot of clubs are banging my single. I hope my next single does better though. (laughs)
Will there be a concert tour to promote the album?
I have different [music] projects that I'm working on, so I really can't say right now. I don't want to say something and then have it not happen then get questions about it later on. I'm going to be on tour, but I don't know what exact dates.
I've heard that you're also launching your own clothing line.
We've held off for the moment because we've been focusing on these two projects that I'm working on. When I say two projects is because I have another project besides my own as far as music goes. I'm definitely going to get something started at the end of this year. Whether its [selling] jeans to tank tops I'm going to get it started. (laughs)
Would you be involved in designing and marketing the clothes?
I've always been into fashion. I'm like a fashion freak. I crave fashion so you can bet that I'm going to be hands-on with everything. (laughs) It's better to be hands-on with projects. I don't want anybody else trying to take control over my ideas. It has to definitely have my signature on it. (laughs)
Who are your personal role models?
I look up to a lot of people from back in the day. When I say "back in the day" it's because of my mom. She always used to sing Motown music to me. So I like music from back then like Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight. Those two people are big influences in my life. I look up to Beyoncé and Christina Aguilera because their music is inspiring. Their lives are inspiring. It makes me want to have the drive to be there someday.
You're a young person trying to launch your career. Do you have any words of advice for students getting ready to do the same thing?
To be confident. I can't stress it enough. Confidence is key. People see your weaknesses. It's a turn-off. A lot of people aren't going to hire you if they see your weakness. I would just recommend being strong and not taking no for an answer. This business that I'm in is so hard and people don't understand the [long] hours that you work. In the studio sometimes you have to cut a record and people are telling you that you can't do it. Don't listen to negative people and keep moving forward.
© 2008, Young Money Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
