TIJAY STAAR Artist Making Moves When did you first get into music? I can’t recall ever NOT being around music. I come from a musical family. My Godmother was a minister in a family. church, so she had me in church very early. I did my first solo at 3yrs old. Her Grandfather was the Pastor. What genre of music do you perform and why? I perform all types of music. I do covers. I can rap. I write Gospel, R&B, I love ballads. I create music, I think can be boundless. And why did you choose that style of music? I choose the music I can best express myself through. Or express passionately, to or for someone else. Like Gospel allows me to flow and be focused on interpretations of my soul. R&B cleanses my heart. When I create music, I listen to my whole body. I put my mind, body and soul into my craft. Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? Well, at 15, my Cousin was a known up and coming Bay Area Rapper. He put me in the studio, it was my first taste
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of the business side of making music. And I realized then that my voice was good enough to be on a record! How has your music evolved since you first began performing/songwriting? I feel I am more willing to interpret what I really feel. The maturity, the compassion, the lessons I have learned and have spoken with others about. I am more deliberate with messages I want to narrate or re iterate. I was under ground for a long time. Playing clubs around the Bay. I have learned to pour everything out on stage and in my sessions. ’m sure you have shared the stage with a lot of talented artists/celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us? I have met both, Mrs. Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Stevie and I were actually joking backstage one year, at The Concord Pavilion. We were hanging out w/ Narada Michael Walden and Stevie’s band. I had an orthotic boot on, due to a sport injury. He called everyone’s attention to us and made up this
