“It
someone had told me when I was 20 that 40 was so sexy, I would have
never believed them!” --Tayna Stephens, Sierra Nevada World Music
Festival 2016
Let’s
get one thing straight. Tanya Stephens thinks that she is the
greatest thing since, and before, sliced bread. And the prolific
reggae/dancehall singer /songwriter is proud of it, too, with more
than 20 years of music to her credit.
After
her riveting performance at the 23rd
Annual Sierra Nevada World Music Festival at Mendocino County
Fairgrounds in Boonville, CA (www.snwmf.com)
on June 18, Stephens addressed the media in the press tent. In fewer
than 20 minutes, she became our BFF. As Stephens was escorted from
the stage to the press tent, she was literally mobbed by fans who
showered her with hugs, kisses, gifts and praise.
Stephens,
who rose to popularity with her risqué dancehall hits and love songs
such as “Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet,” Draw fi Mi Finger,” “Boom
Wuk,” “Goggle,” “It’s a Pity,” “I Can’t Breathe”
and “These Streets” said she prefers not to be labeled as a
“female” artist. Stephens said her most feared question is “what
advice would you give to young women who aspire to break into the
music industry?”
“I
would say, try not to take too much advice, because there’s no one
way to do this,” said the dusky voiced singer, who performed on the
SNWMF bill with world music greats such as Etana, Beres Hammond,
Toots and the Maytals, Leroy Sibbles and others that weekend. “What
works for Tanya Stephens may not work for another female coming into
the business. It’s changed since I came in. I would say, don’t be
labeled as a ‘female’ artist, just be an ‘artist.’ Stop
being intimidated by the word ‘fraternity’ and stop thinking that
this is a male dominated industry. They may be many in terms of
numbers, but in terms of potency, not so much. We have them beat.
Just come in, kick down the door and do your thing. Don’t be hung
up on the ‘female’ label; our job is not sexual. I know that
people mean well when they compliment me by saying that I’m one of
the best female artists, but I feel marginalized by my gender. I look
at women and I see no competition. That may sound egotistical to some
people, but I’m not an accidental artist. I work very hard. If you
hear me put out 10 songs, it means I made maybe, 150 songs. I demand
more than just the title female artist. It’s like saying all right,
we need some breasts, and I don’t even have that much breasts.”
To
date, Stephens has recorded nine solo albums including “Big Things
a Gwaan (1994), “Too Hype” (1997), “Work Out” (1997) “Ruff
Rider (1998) “Sintoxicated” (2001) “Gangsta Blues” (2004)
“Rebelution” (2006), “Infallible” (2010) and “Guilty”
(2013).
Stephens
has released more than 100 singlesand collaborated with artists such
as Lady Saw, Bounty Killer, Shabba Ranks and Marcia Griffiths to name
a few.
“I’m
a woman when I’m with my husband; I’ve been married for a few
years,” said Stephens, who turns 43 this year. “But I don’t
see that as something that defines me. I don’t complete him and he
doesn’t complete me; we’re just two people who are doing this
together. When I’m with my husband, I’m his woman, but with you
guys, I don’t have to be a woman, do I? ‘Cause we’re not all
sleeping together now are we? I need to be a woman for our kids
because they need a mother. But when we are working together, why
can’t we just be people? If we embrace the terms “women’ and
female,” we embrace marginalization and the limitations put on us.”
After
performing at SNWMF, Stephens headed to Europe to play the summer
festival circuit. Yes, she has a new album in the works, but right
now Stephens is taking it easy and loving it.
“It
feels nice; it feels like the best of me, really, said Stephens. “So,
I’m in no rush. I’m working on a new album, but I haven’t
completed it yet, not to my liking. I have to like it first. And when
I like it, then I will think that it deserves your ears; and I will
release it. I have no record label; I have no boss, I have no
deadline. I can take my time, and I hope you guys will exercise some
patience. I have to live up to my own expectations and meet my own
standards. That’s my process.
“I’m
grateful that you give me a platform, and the fact that people
actually like what I do is amazing,” said Stephens. “Nobody has
to like my music. Of course, I think that I’m the greatest thing
since or before sliced bread, but nobody has to agree with me.”
Oh,
and another thing, Stephens has a wild and wicked sense of humor and
her sharp wit shines through in her lyrics and conversation. One
member of the press asked about her brief business venture as a bar
and restaurant owner in Ocho Rios.
“That
was not a good pairing,” said Stephens. “Just think about it; me
with a bar! (laughed). That didn’t work out. I was my best
customer, but that was bad for business.”
Stephens,
who hails from St. Mary, grew up in a typical Jamaican household
which means that she was influenced by country western music, gospel
and Calypso. One of her first influences was Trinidadian calypsonian
Lord Kitchener, who inspired Stephens’ love of writing with his
double entendres. Stephens also considers SNWMF Saturday night
headliner Beres Hammond a great writer. As a student of literature,
Stephens loves a good story—the plot, the suspense, the climax.
Sidney Sheldon is her favorite novelist; she collects his books in
hard and soft cover.
Stephens’
also gushed about one of her biggest musical influences, Motown
heavyweight William “Smokey” Robinson.
”Influence
is a mild way of putting it,” said the Stephens. “I’ve been in
love with Smokey since I was about 10 years old. ‘Tracks of My
Tears’ is my all-time favorite song; it’s been my favorite since
I was in grammar school.”
To
the delight of everyone in the press tent, Stephens crooned a few
bars of “Tracks of My Tears.”
“People
say I'm the life of the party 'Cause I tell a joke or two/Although I
might be laughing loud and hearty/Deep inside I'm blue…”
“I
don’t collect keepsakes; I’m not a person who takes a picture
with an artist to say ‘look who I’m standing next to,’ because
I think I am all that and more,” said Stephens. “A friend brought
me an autograph from Smokey, and that’s the only (memorabilia) I’ve
kept throughout my entire career. Smokey Robinson was the soundtrack
of my childhood and my adulthood. Every pain I’ve felt, I’ve
cried with Smokey. I literally cried with Smokey. It’s crazy; you
know me and Smokey’s relationship. He doesn’t know we have one.”
Ironically,
Stephens said she has no desire to duet with her idol any time soon.
“You know what, I don’t like meeting the people I really, really
love, because then, they become human. And the truth is, no human can
live up to your expectations, so I don’t want to spoil Smokey for
me. I would rather Smokey stay just the way he is, over there with
his fabulously-getting-younger self.”
“Listen,
for me Bernie Sanders is not about politics,” said Stephens.
“Bernie taps into everything I feel inside as a human; everything
I’ve wanted. You know, the peace. The caring for each other. Doing
what we know is right as opposed to what is popular and what is on
the books. We wrote the damn books so we can change the books. This
is what Bernie stands for. So, for me, it’s not even about winning
or losing, it has nothing to do with the Democratic Party or the
Republican Party. I’m not an American and I can’t even vote here!
Bernie is inspiring people all over the world to fight and rebel
against what we know is wrong with the system. This country is rich!
There shouldn’t be any poor people. Just like Jamaica is rich!
There shouldn’t be anyone starving! Even if he is not running for
president, I’m with Bernie forever. I love that man! He’s kind of
rivaling Smokey right now.”
Follow
Tanya Stephens on Twitter: @Tanya_Stephens
On
Instagram: @tanyastephensofficial
