UG Digital Mag: So let’s talk a little about the independent world.
You’ve been independent for a number of years now. You’ve
released a number of projects, which in my eyes have been quite
successful, and you’re now on your latest which is doing phenomenally. What difficulties have you had along the way? How
have those things gotten better over the years?
Mya: Well being independent and managing to pay for your projects & put them out into the universe yourself is quite a success.
But coming from the major label world, my independent projects
might be looked at as a failure from some. Some of the difficulties have been not having enough time in the day to wear every
hat. I enjoy the process and making sure the product is right,
but damn it is a struggle trying to be 20 different people in one
day (laughs). And I often laugh at & even question myself… “like
damn… you are either super passionate or you are just insane.”
I guess the two go hand in hand. Difficulties… Well because I am
not supported by a major budget which pays for marketing, promo, advertising, radio & TV time, the perception has been that
I quit singing. But it’s actually been the complete opposite. I’ve
never traveled, performed, recorded so much, pushed out this
many projects or actually recouped & profited this much in my
life… the way I have in my independent journey. There are many
things that could be better, but many things that could be worse.
But one thing that’s gotten better is my art, self love & knowledge
of business that only doing time in the trenches can teach you.
UG Digital Mag: I have the debate with artists often in regard to
being independent, and I’ve always felt like it was so much better
being independent, in terms of freedom, marketing and promotion abilities, and so on. I’ve always felt that nobody can sell or
or email, set up a time, and take it from there creatively or they’ll
send me something to download, I vibe to it in a completely
different city, state or country… and we build from there. For this
project, I wanted to give more of an experience with musicality &
R&B roots.
UG Digital Mag: What was timing in putting this together? How
long did you work on this project?
Mya: There was no particular in timing in putting the project
together. With the exception of the intro, the outro & Coolin’, I’d
recorded the other songs over the course of the last 3 and a half
years which were just sitting amongst an archive of unreleased
music. I handpicked what I thought would work best together for
another grown & sexy themed project to complete the EP of the
Planet 9 EP Series. The Smoove Jones title came to me around
October 2015, when I started going through pictures to assemble
the 2016 Calendar… I said “That’s it…that’s the cover right there!
That’s Smoove Jones. That is HER & that’s going to be the title of
the next EP.” Now, the crafting of the calendar, the digital booklet,
all of the paperwork, mixing, mastering, design, packaging, metadata organization & manufacturing of the physical CD was all
done in-house through my label, Planet 9… I’d say it was at least
a 2 1/2 month process.
UG Digital Mag: I’m not one who watches the charts constantly,
but from what I can see in terms of your fans, the album is doing
great.
Mya: That’s great, because I certain don’t pay attention either.
I’m just happy that my music is in the universe having folks feel
some type of way (laughs) and is being received well.