Tarius Mahoney Multi-Genre Artist
When did you first get into music? Well, of course I fell in love with everyone’s favorite performer Michael Jackson, but it didn’t stop there. I grew up listening to great music played by my parents like James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and Kool and the Gang. I started singing at an early age, sang with kids in school and such, but it wasn’t until I was in my twenties and on into my thirties that I really got into it and formed the r&b trio 120. We were wildly successful at the time and were on national tv like BET and NBC a few times and won awards and recognitions. Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? As I said, Michael Jackson was the number one reason that I started loving music, but later in high school, singing groups were the cool thing; I followed groups like Jodeci, H-Town, 112, Drew Hill, Boyz to Men, and BBD. I was young and wanted to sing, dance, have all the girls scream for me and go on tour! It all just looked like a lot of fun! I got my taste by joining a few performing groups and it was exciting; I always wanted more! How have your skills evolved since you first got into music? I’m a completely different person than I was, when I’m writing my songs now it’s a lot more emotion involved and stylized -- it’s very therapeutic at times, I’m definitely even more connected to it. I feel like I’m capable of writing in any genre. I was even commissioned to write a country song! Many of my early songs were fun, upbeat, and had meaning too, but my life and personal experiences add a depth that just wasn’t there before. My vocal range has increased and my personal vocal style has improved too.
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Have you collaborated with any other artists? If so, who? Over the years I have collaborated with so many indie artists, it’s way too many to name! A few honorable mentions are my own South Jersey group 120, South Jersey rapper Boss, New Mexico rappers Madd Hatter and EnVee, the Bay area’s Slapp Turner,
