Teen star Tiffany Evans 'confident and ready' for comeback
A decade ago, Tiffany Evans seemed poised for R&B superstardom.
After breaking out as a vocal prodigy in talent competitions such as “Showtime at the Apollo” and “Star Search,” the Bronx-born singer landed a deal at Columbia Records by the time she was 10. Roles in films such as Tyler Perry’s “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” and “Tarzan 2” followed as she was being developed into the next R&B teenage idol.
And when Evans’ self-titled debut was released in 2008, it had all the makings of a hit. Overseen by R&B-pop star Ciara, who was positioned as a mentor (the two dueted on Evans' effervescent “Promise Ring”), the record boasted production work from chart fixtures that included Rodney Jerkins, Ne-Yo, RedOne and a pre-fame HitBoy.
But the album peaked at No. 134 on the Billboard 200.
Like countless teen stars, Evans found herself stuck at the label. Unsure of a creative direction, she parted ways with Columbia and what would have been a second album was ultimately scrapped.
Now 23, Evans is back with new music, releasing her new EP, “All Me,” and reintroducing herself. “I’m confident and ready to do this thing,” she says.
On a recent afternoon, having just put her 3-month-old daughter down for a nap, Evans discussed her early entry into music, her comeback and why she doesn’t feel like a showbiz veteran.
We are years removed from your debut. What has it been like for you, having started so young on a label, and now doing it on your own?
It was a big transition. I had been signed to Columbia for like 10 years. I was 19 [when we split] and it was scary. I hadn’t been outside of that atmosphere, so I didn’t know what it was like to hustle the way an independent rapper would. It was a choice I needed to make.
I had so many people from the very beginning telling me, “Tiffany, this is what you should sound like, this is what you should look like, these are the writers that we are going to bring in and the producers you are going to work with.” [My debut] didn’t come out the way I envisioned it. I was never able to speak up for myself and say, “This is not who I am.” I don’t think I could even start the conversation.
I've never liked her, but she spoke some nonsense about the Illuminati and tried to come for Rihanna's Russian Roulette which basically ended her.
People fail to realize that when she made those statements she was a KID. Taking care of herself, on her own, and just getting into religion. She kinda grew up in the industry and ain't no telling who was influencing her mind during those years. People grow and learn more.
