Mya Bio

This Mya biography contains information believed to be accurate as extracted from sources around the internet including Wikipedia. If you believe there are errors or omissions in this Mya bio, please let us know so that we can correct any inaccuracies.

Mya Pictures

Mí½a Marie Harrison (born October 10, 1979), professionally known mononymously as Mí½a, is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, dancer and model. Born and raised in Washington D.C., Harrison's eponymous debut album with Interscope Records was released in April 1998, and sold over 2 million copies in the United States, producing the gold-certified top ten single "It's All About Me" featuring Sisqo. Her second studio album, platinum-selling Fear of Flying, was released in 2000 and became a success stateside and worldwide, with lead single "Case of the Ex" becoming Mí½a's breakthrough hit, reaching number-one on the Australian Singles Chart. A year after, Harrison won her first Grammy Award for the worldwide number-one hit "Lady Marmalade," a cover version she recorded alongside Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and Pink for the soundtrack of the film Moulin Rouge! (2001). The singer's third album Moodring was released in July 2003 stateside and eventually certified gold by the RIAA. Following several label changes, Mí½a's often-delayed fourth studio album, Liberation (2007), received a download-release in Japan only and led to her 2008 Japan-exclusive album Sugar & Spice.

Having expanded her career to acting and product endorsement deals, Harrison has been engaged in product endorsement deals with brands such as Coca-Cola, Iceberg, Tommy Hilfiger, and Motorola and has had roles in films such as Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004), Shall We Dance? (2004) and Cursed (2005). In 2002, she had a supporting role in the film adaptation of the 1975 Broadway musical Chicago, for which she won a Screen Actors Guild Award.

It was announced on August 17, 2009 that she will compete on the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars.

Mya: Early life

Named after writer Maya Angelou, Mí½a Marie Harrison was one of three children born to Sherman, a musician and singer, and Theresa Harrison, an accountant, in Washington, D.C. She grew up in nearby suburban Maryland with her two younger brothers Chaz and Nijel. Her mother worked as an accountant and her father sang with a number of top-40 bands in the area. Mí½a took violin lessons throughout her childhood, but dancing was her primary after-school activity. She took ballet lessons from the age of two and added jazz and tap dancing lessons to her schedule two years later. She entered some dance competitions with her brother as a partner, and then joined the Tappers With Attitude troop as a ten-year-old. Her tap dancing skills led to an opportunity to study with one of the best-known tap dancers in the country, Savion Glover of the Dance Theater of Harlem, when he came to Washington for a workshop. Glover later chose Mí½a for a solo spot in a dance performance at the Kennedy Center.

With a African-American father and a mother of Italian descent, Mí½a sometimes had to endure insensitive comments about her ethnic background. Her accomplishments as a dancer, however, helped Mí½a to make the transition into adolescence and deal with the peer pressure that many teenagers experience. As she explained in an appearance on Canada's Much Music television show in January 2001, "There was a time in my life when I wasn't popular and accepted by kids in school. I was made fun of with braces and kinky hair, and being from a multicultural family, etcetera. ... And it really hurts when you're that age, but later when you get something of your own or you get involved in activities like a sport, you begin to be accepted for what you do, and your personality and who you are, instead of your clothes and how you look and the name designer brands you have on." As a popular performer, Mí½a would later draw on her experiences to speak to girls' groups as part of the Secret of Self-Esteem program for adolescents, addressing issues such as body image, peer pressure, and gender stereotypes.

While she continued to study dance and appeared on Teen Summit on the Black Entertainment Television network, Mí½a changed her focus to music as she entered her teens. With the help of her father, she put together a demo tape when she was 15 and began to scout around for a record deal while she was still in high school. After an audition in the living room of University Music Entertainment president Haqq Islam, Mí½a got herself a management deal which led to a recording contract with University and its major-label affiliate, Interscope Records. Mí½a finished high school when she was 17 years old and subsequently took a few classes at the University of Maryland, College Park, but the teenager's primary focus was on the recording studio.

Mya: Recording career

Mya - 1997-1999: Mí½a (debut album)

Mí½a released her self-titled, double-platinum debut album, Mí½a, on April 21, 1998. The album featured the massively successful singles "It's All About Me", "Movin' On", and "My First Night with You". The album's lead single "It's All About Me", a duet with fellow R&B singer Sisqó produced her first top ten hit and was certified gold on June 4, 1998. The album produced two more top forty hits "Movin' On" featuring Silkk the Shocker and "My First Night with You". Within the next six months Mí½a's self titled debut was certified platinum on October 1, 1998. The album garnered Mí½a two Soul Train Music Award nominations for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist and Best R&B/Soul Album - Female.

In addition to her solo work, Mí½a was also a featured artist with Ol' Dirty Bastard on Pras' 1998 Grammy Award-nominated hit, "Ghetto Superstar", from the Bulworth soundtrack and "Take Me There" from The Rugrats Movie soundtrack, with Blackstreet and Mase.

Mya - 2000-2001: Fear of Flying

On April 25, 2000, Mí½a released her second studio album titled, Fear of Flying. The album debut at number fifteen on the Billboard 200 chart with first week sales of 72,000 copies. Upon initial release, the album seemed to be suffering from the dreaded sophomore slump. The album's leading single, "The Best of Me", featuring Jadakiss, was a dreamy midtempo tune that relies on Mí½a's throaty inflections. The song was a hit at urban radio but failed to crossover to mainstream radio. "The Best of Me", arguably one of the better pop songs of 2000, under-performed on the charts, not even making it into the pop Top 40. The album's second single, the confrontational "Case of the Ex" was a dance-heavy jam with attitude; on it, Mí½a confronts her man about an old lover who will not go away. "Case of the Ex" became Mí½a's breakthrough hit reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100, number three on the UK Singles Chart, and number one on the Australian Singles Chart. With the success of "Case of the Ex", Interscope re-released Fear of Flying on November 7, 2000 with a revised tracklisting containing two new songs, including the third single "Free". (which was previously on the Bait soundtrack) and a new track titled "Again and Again". "Free" was even more pop-friendly and became quite successful on MTV's TRL and pop radio. Fear of Flying, landed Mí½a a Soul Train Music Award nomination for R&B/Soul album in 2001. Eventually Fear of Flying was certified platinum on March 28, 2001 selling more than 1.2 million copies in the United States alone. Although Fear of Flying was received with mixed reviews, the album still became a huge commercial success for Mí½a launching her career into superstardom. Fear of Flying hit nearly as hard as Mí½a's debut, remaining on Billboard 200 for 52 consecutive weeks.

In May 2001, Mí½a collaborated with Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and Pink on a remake of Labelle's 1974 hit "Lady Marmalade". The track was produced by hip hop producers Missy Elliott and Rockwilder and was featured in Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge!. The single sold 5.5 million copies, becoming the most successful airplay-only single in history. The song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in its eighth week, spending five weeks at the top of the chart. The song's success was driven by its sexually suggestive video, which featured the four singers dressed in burlesque outfits. Pink and Mí½a later described that the immodest concept almost prevented the video from being filmed; nonetheless, the video was a huge hit on MTV, VH1, and MTV2, and collected several MTV Video Music Awards nominations in 2001. The song was also one of the year's biggest at pop, rhythmic, and even adult top 40. Mí½a alongside Aguilera, Lil' Kim, and Pink not only performed at the Grammy Awards ceremony, but walked away with the grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. "Lady Marmalade" went on to collect numerous awards including two MTV Video Music Awards for Video of the Year and Best Video from a Film.

Mya - 2002-2003: Moodring

Mí½a at the 2003 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City

After the release and success of Fear of Flying, Mí½a began to dabble in acting with a supporting role in the 2002 Academy Award-winning musical film, Chicago, in which she would win a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance. In the following years, she continued appearing in films such as Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004), Shall We Dance? (2004), and Cursed (2005). In 2004, Mí½a appeared as a Bond girl in the video game James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing; she also sang the video game's theme song, "Everything or Nothing". Mí½a also went on to become a spokesperson for the Coca Cola company with labelmate Common with their ad campaign Real Compared to What.

On July 22, 2003, after much delay, Mí½a released her third long-awaited studio album, Moodring. The album sold more than 113,000 copies in its first week and peaked at number 3 on Billboard 200, surpassing Mí½a's previous effort first-week sales. Originally titled Bittersweet, Moodring display an array of different emotions exploring Mí½a's playful and sexual side. The majority of Moodring was co-written and co-produced by Mí½a and was influenced by different subjects and music stylings including techno, pop rock, soul, hip-hop, r&b, quiet storm, etc.

The first single, the Missy Elliot-produced My Love Is Like...Wo became a smash hit and a summertime anthem for women. The video showcase a more sexy and risqué side of Mí½a and became popular at MTV. The second single, the elegant-mid tempo track "Fallen" failed to duplicate the same success but however reached the top forty on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Moodring stayed on the US chart for a mere eighteen consecutive weeks and went on to be certified gold,selling 597,000 copies to date.

In 2003, Mí½a posed for Maxim magazine; her pictorial is featured on their Girls of Maxim gallery. She was also a model for King magazine. Mí½a has also appeared in various print ads.

Mya - 2004-2008: Liberation and Sugar & Spice

Mí½a had been working on her fourth studio album on and off since 2004; she signed a six figure contract with Ford Modeling Agency in 2005. Originally conceived as a project called Control Freak, the album's first version was actually scheduled for a mid-2005 release and involving main production by Scott Storch, Dr. Dre, Lil Jon, Rockwilder and songwriter Sean Garrett. Although she intended to release a dance track called "Let It Go" at a particular time, the singer eventually decided to leave her management and A&M Records in fall 2005 before signing a new contract with Motown Records. Mí½a began consulting a few other producers to collaborate on the album, renamed Liberation, and in mid-2006, a buzz track entitled "Ayo!" was released onto the internet. Due to time-consuming "litigations, court, transitioning from label to label, teaching kids [at the Mya Art & Tech Foundation] and building a [recording] studio" however, the song was never picked up as a single and the album's release was pushed back again. In March 2007, the album's actual lead single "Lock U Down", a Scott Storch-produced collaboration with Lil Wayne, was sent to radio. After its commercial failure, a second single entitled "Ridin'" was released, but as the song saw minor success on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart only, Liberation was delayed once more and eventually bumped from the U.S. schedule. As a result, the album was never released physically anywhere but in Japan.

In 2008, Mí½a parted ways with Motown and contracted with a Japanese label, Manhattan Records. Having worked on new material since mid-2007, her fifth studio Sugar & Spice received a Japan-wide release in December 2008. Composed of production by less known producers, the album produced a new version of her single "Fallen," a cover of Diana King's hit "Shy Guy," as well as the first and final single "Paradise."

Mya - 2009-present: Beauty & the Streets Vol.1 and 6th Studio Album

Mí½a is currently working on her 6th studio album due February 2010 and to be released on her own independent label, entitled Planet 9. She recently inked a deal with J. Prince's Young Empire Music Group and will release a mixtape called Beauty & The Streets Vol.1 on September 29, 2009. First single, Show Me Somethin' featuring Houston-rapper Bun B has already leaked onto the internet and will service to radio in August.

Mya: Artistry

Mya - Voice

Harrison is a mezzo-soprano with a four-octave range. Her voice is best described as soft, mellow, strong, clear, assured, and whispery. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic commented that Mí½a has a voice that is at once "innocent and knowing", while Billboard complimented her voice for having a "smooth, angelic tone" to it who oozes with the confidence and stylistic flair of an artist twice her age. Other critics often calls her voice weak and thin. In reviewing for her second studio album Fear of Flying, Jon Azpiri of AllMusic commented that "she is a promising young talent, but still has yet to develop the chops necessary to rank among the best of R&B divas." Rolling Stone stated "The signature quiver in Mí½a's voice does give her some sonic identity, but otherwise this could be the music of Destiny's Child, Aaliyah or any of the countless interchangeable hip-hop/R&B divas." During an interview with Billy Johnson Jr of Yahoo! Music in 2003, Mí½a stated I like to sing loud, I like to sing soft, I just like to feel good, period. It's not that serious also commenting on the fact there are a lot of misconceptions just about singing, period and she's just happy to be here. She also mentions in the interview I think being a young artist, just starting out of high school, what kids listen to is club music. We don't necessarily get too deep or sing like Aretha Franklin. That's not even what music is truly about today. It's sad, but I want to give a little bit of sex, being fabulous or sassy. I definitely want to be able to sing and back that up, and being a dancer first has sort of given me a complex that I have to be able to sing, period, with a band. If I break my leg, I'd like to give a show without pyrotechnics and choreography every five seconds.

Mya - Songwriting and producing

Since the beginning of her career, Mí½a has always been artistically involved in her career. Harrison writes majority of her own material for her studio albums. She is known for writing sexually driven lyrics and female empowerment compositions with a bit of an edge to them through her love for free spirited wordplay and incoporates a wide genre of music such as jazz, soul, hip-hop, techno, rock, reggae, and quiet storm. Using clever concepts and metahpor in her music, she's one of today's promising young talents and profound artists. Most of her songs are helmed from personal experiences in her life as well as friend's.

Harrison has co-produced most of her records since 2000. She is heavily involved in the production of her music and every single process, from writing and recording to producing, mixing, and mastering. Formulating the beat, creating the concept, and coming up with the melodies.

Mya - Stage

Harrison is a versatile performer. As a child, she had terrible stage fright, but dancing eventually gave the all-around performer the confidence she needed to test the waters as a singer. She's best known for her aggressiveness, carelessness, and fluttering, expressive vocals on stage. Captivating audiences around the globe, as both a sassy, soulful singer and a supremely gifted dancer, when she steps on stage or behind a microphone Mí½a doesn't just blossom, she ignites; improvising tap dance numbers, strutting and voguing and in control, commanding the stage with an energy and passion that have made her one of today's most popular performers.

Mya - Influences

Mí½a's musical influences include Sade Adu, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Prince, Chaka Khan, Minnie Riperton and Madonna. Mí½a praises Steve Wonder for his ability to hear music and play music and feel it and get other people to feel it, and Madonna for her boldness and courage. Mí½a calls Minnie Riperton her favorite female singer and Prince her musical hero, stating, "He's someone who takes risks. He's an all-around entertainer, hell of a performer. He's a genius."

Mí½a's dance influences include Gregory Hines, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Savion Glover, Jimmy Slyde, Electric Boogaloos, Rock Steady Crew, Cyd Charisse, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Sammy Davis, Jr.

She cites Lena Horne and Liza Minnelli as role models.

Mya: Acting career

Mí½a made her acting debut in the 1999 film In Too Deep starring LL Cool J and Omar Epps. In the movie, she played a young woman named Loretta.

In late 2002, Mí½a co-starred in the broadway musical Chicago alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah, and Renee Zellweger. In the film, she portrayed a murderess named Mona in the Cell Block Tango dance number. The film was a box office hit grossing $306,776,732 worldwide and earned Mí½a a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance. In 2004, she had two small roles in the films Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights and Shall We Dance?. In the films, she played a latina lounge singer named Lola Martinez and Vern's Fiancee. Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights tanked at the box office grossing $14,161,590 in the United States and $27,685,016 worldwide while Shall We Dance? became a box office hit grossing $57,890,460 in the United States alone and $170,128,460 worldwide.

In early 2005, Mí½a had a supporting role in the Wes Craven horror film Cursed. The film starred Christina Ricci, Joshua Jackson, Judy Greer, and Shannon Elizabeth. In the film, Mí½a played a young victim by the name of Jenny Tate. Although Cursed tanked at the box office grossing $19,297,522 in the United States and $29,621,722 worldwide, the film earned Mí½a a nomination at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards for Best Frightened Performance. Her next film, the Bill Duke-directed Cover, Mí½a portrayed an AIDS victim named Cynda. The film opened at selective theaters and grossed $62,217 in the United States. The film dealt with the subject of men who are on the down-low in society. In 2008, Mí½a had a starring role in the direct-to-dvd romantic comedy film Love For Sale. Mí½a played a college student named Kiely in a bad relationship. The film was released to DVD on October 21, 2008.

In 2010, Mí½a will hit the big screen in the upcoming psychological thriller Disciple directed by the Clark Brothers. The film stars Taral Hicks as well. Production on the film starts September 2009.

Mya: Philanthropy

As a philanthropist, Mí½a continues to devote her time and resources to various causes. From 1998 to 2001, she became the spokesperson for Secret to Self Esteem. In 2005, Mí½a founded TMATF: The Mya Arts & Tech Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing disadvantaged youth growth and opportunity through arts & technology education, where she serves as both executive director and teacher. Mí½a is also an advocate of breast cancer as her mother is an 10 year survivor. In 2006 & 2007 she collaborated with the Lifetime Television Network in the Stop Breast Cancer for Life campaign, recording "My Bra" a song sold on iTunes donating 100% of proceeds to breast cancer research. In 2007, Mí½a was also the internationally featured artist in Heatherette's Fashion Show for LifeBall in Vienna, Austria to fight Global AIDS, hosted a fundraiser for Skool'd to aid homeless LGBT youth, and advocated gay rights by opening the Out 100 Awards.

Mya: Discography

• Mí½a (1998)
• Fear of Flying (2000)
• Moodring (2003)
• Liberation (2007)
• Sugar & Spice (2008)

Mya: Tours

• 1998: Smokin' Groove Tour
• 1999: Lilith Fair
• 2000: MTV European Tour
• 2001: House of Blues Tour
• 2003: House of Blues Tour
• 2007: Seagrams Live Tour
• 2007: BET Black College Tour

Mya: Filmography

Mya: Awards and nominations

Mya: References

Mya: External links

• Official website
• www.beautyandthestreets.net
• Mí½a at Allmusic
• Mí½a at the Internet Movie Database