Tamara Jade the Voice Contestant

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The Voice Contestant and Bowie Native Tamara Jade shares her journey & her joy

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Tamara Jade, 31, has embraced a love of music from a very young age. She is a shining light in an otherwise dark year and is proudly pursuing her dreams on the stage. Simply Bowie was able to chat with Tamara, hear about her time on the show and what she has planned for the future.

You have such a strong, joyful and energetic personality. You are truly incredible to watch out on the stage. How do you remain true to yourself and your roots even now being a competitor on The Voice (on NBC)?

I got some advice when I was a child and someone told me to, “Stay connected to your constant.” At the time, as a child, I didn’t know what that meant, but now that I am older, I know that my constant is my family and Prince George’s

County. My constant is music and my constant is me. Staying true to me- to that joy and that light that I carry. It is high stakes. I fight for my joy and I fight for my light because I am aware of how infectious and how effective it is. You are most effective when you push yourself into whatever you are doing and I realize how high stakes of being a carrier of light and joy is. It is a compliment to say that someone lights up a room, but it is also a responsibility. The person that I am now is exactly who I have always been. I keep the things that helped me and grew me close to my heart. I was living in New York for the last four years, but I was always coming home. I could always come home to regroup and I was welcomed with open arms. Where I come from is a beautiful place. I see people who look like me doing amazing things. I stay connected to the constant things in my life that keep me grounded. That doesn’t mean we only do things that make us happy. Self-care is sometimes dealing with the things that you don’t love about yourself. It is work. It really is just doing the work to remember who I am and to fight for who I am. I am grateful to God that he has made me one of those happy people who make others happy, but a lot of that work is done alone. [Through] journaling, praying, talking to myself and talking through problems as well as going to therapy, a licensed professional. Yes, talk to Jesus, perhaps talk to your pastor, but a licensed clinical therapist is something everyone could benefit from.

How long have you been singing? Did you always want to pursue music as a child and as a young adult?

I would say that professionally I have been singing for 20 years. I am 31 now so since I was 12 years old. I got my start in church. My mom was in a singing trio. One of which is my godmother and the other is my brother’s godmother. I was born into that musical family. When I was six years old, I sang a solo in church and I said afterwards, “Daddy why were the people crying when I sang? I thought it was a happy song. And he said, “Sweetheart they were touched. And I was like what? I didn’t touch them.”

I realized that I loved that I could reach other people. I knew pretty early on that this is what I wanted to do. I definitely took some detours and I do have other interests, but nothing gives me the same level of passion and purpose as being on the stage and putting light into the world through music. I literally pray before I get on the stage and say, “God you take over, they will see me, but you take over and people will feel you. Use me to make people feel.” I guess you have to be careful what you ask for because every time I

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come off that stage I think “What just happened?” It’s as if my soul leaves my body.

What inspired you to audition for The Voice?

I wanted to go to the next phase of my career and moving to New York did that for me. Stepping out want all four of them. We want John, but we want

as an artist and doing higher level professional work. I spent those four years polishing who I am, what I want to say and how I want to say it. I have a highlevel singing background and when this opportunity came up it seemed liked the next level step to me. I got to learn while in New York that being a professional background singer is so beautiful. To have that experience was not a fall back plan. Singing background is one of the hardest professions there is in music. Their prowess is what gives the ability to shift and change their voice to support the lead singer. I learned that, I lived in that and I loved it. I knew that ultimately, I wanted to be the person out front. I have some things that I want to say. I have toured and done high-level gigs where I am supporting, but now I am ready to lead. I would have been on tour this summer, but I wasn’t because of the pandemic and I had the chance to audition. I have auditioned three times for this show. This is the product of work and manifestation. Seeing it, working for it and with the guidance of God. I don’t do anything without that. It was time. I am grateful that I have taken the time to develop who I am. There is so much more than meets the eye when it comes to these experiences, and when them or you have to get ready.

What were you feeling during that blind audition? How amazing was it when all four judges turned around?

You’ve got to yield to the moment. There is so much energy in that room when that happens. I will be honest I was just happy. This is what we came here to do. I was really excited and any time at that intersection of manifestation and hard work there is a feeling that I don’t think I will ever get tired of feeling. My family said, “We want four chairs. We

they present themselves you are either ready for all four of them.” All four artists are really unique and all four of them saw something special in me. It was very validating and exciting.

What is your favorite thing about living in and growing up in Prince George’s County?

My favorite thing is something that I didn’t realize until I left. That to me is the spectrum of blackness. I have looked for places that are like Prince George’s County and there is not place on earth like that. I forgot what it was like to be in a place where you consistently see people that look like you doing a variety of things. I had black doctors growing up. I see people at the car dealership and Starbucks. [People who look like me] who are teachers and professionals. I guess I never realized how much representation meant until I felt invisible. I have traveled a lot for work and there is no other place that has ever made me feel so seen. My parents are naturalized citizens and so living in Bowie was the ultimate come up. For our family, for what they were able to do with nothing when they came here and created this beautiful life. [In Bowie] people have that opportunity. That diversity of people of color doing great things, high-level things, and I am very grateful for that. I love Bowie Town Center. It is one of the most consistent shopping centers and its thriving. It is one of my constants.

What artists have influenced your singing journey?

My favorite singer is Karen Clark Sheard from The Clark Sisters. She really helped me find my voice. She was the first voice where I said, “yes that is what I hear myself as.” Kelly Price’s voice really helped me on my journey. Aretha Franklin, I discovered in my later years. One of my regrets is that I didn’t get to sing for her. I hope to be one of those artists that they call to sing a tribute one day.

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Bob Marley is my favorite artist. I find that his lyrics are timeless and I aspire to create timeless content and lyrics. I want to do TV, films, musicals and I aspire to the timelessness of his music and the fact that his music had messages. You can still be happy even if you have nothing. I think this is so powerful. Of course, John Legend and his music, Janelle Monáe, Queen Latifah, and Jenifer Hudson. If ever I get the opportunity to work with her it would be such a blessing. For my career journey [I would like it] to emulate a few people, John Legend would be first. I am a very big fan.

What advice do you have for people especially young girls who see you on tv and aspire to be like you?

Representation is so important. “One piece of advice would be to, “Master knowing who you are and who you want to be. Who you will be is who you already are, but you have to do work to get there.” Two would be, “Stay ready so you ain’t gotta get ready.” For me when this opportunity arose, I didn’t have to get if your dream opportunity was on the other end of the phone call right now. Do you have all the tools? Do you have the resources? Do you have all the infrastructure? When I was a working musician, I had someone tell me, “Don’t do jobs that don’t enhance your craft. I worked as a wedding singer to earn money and enhance my craft. I spent two years singing in wedding bands. When it comes to being on [The Voice] singing all covers I have done it and I am confident. For young girls, especially you have to be ready. It’s not enough to look cute and sound cute, you have to do the work. Don’t expect people to hand stuff to you because you are good.

What is up next for you and for your music?

Thank you for asking that because [what people don’t realize is that] this show is a small blip in time. My next biggest goal is to be on TV and in film. I would really love to delve into acting. I have acted in music and musical theater. I would love to be on a primetime comedy or a dramatic comedy. I would love to be on a This is Us or Insecure and I really love black television. I would love to be in movies.

Continuing to make music. I have an EP that is out and available everywhere. I will continue to make music and release it. Collaborate with artists and producers. I am saying this and putting it into the world. I am manifesting it to you, I would love to sing at Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ inauguration. I would be so proud of this. ready. Being polished, being skilled and being able to go

Something I could tell my grandkids. I am going to keep putting it out into the universe until God answers me. I actually would like to learn more about local politics. I am learning about the importance of local elections and local officials. If anyone in Bowie wants to collaborate to use my platform and mobilize my generation. I am happy to be doing that. I want to always be in a position to get involved in what is going on in my hometown and be engaged in the community.

If you had to pick one song to encapsulate 2020 what would it be?

Honestly, I would pick my song, “Better.” I actually wrote it at the beginning of quarantine and the hook is “We Gon’ We Gon’ Be alright. Keep your head up it’s going to get better.” This really embodies how I feel. I wrote it based on 2020. I believe God is coming through on the fourth quarter of this year. I am hoping and praying that we will go out on a good note and the same note that we started the year off. 2020 has kind of been a trash fire, and some people felt trapped, but for me, it was a blessing and a protection. It wasn’t ideal, but I was at my home and I had everything that I needed and I survived. So many people didn’t live through the year and many people look at it as a loss, but I look at is a lesson.