Tanay Jackson loves to sing and perform, which makes sense, being she is the niece of Michael Jackson and daughter of Tito Jackson. Tanay has just released her brand new single “Honey” and is about to become a star in her own right. Tanay is getting rave reviews for her stage performances and presence.Tanay shared some of her fondest memories of Michael and her aspirations for the future with LA’s The Place
Singer Tanay Jackson
Amber Bollard for LA’s The Place: You have a very famous uncle that the whole world admired, why don’t you share your thoughts with our readers.
Tanay Jackson: Michael, in my opinion was the sweetest man I ever knew. He loved to laugh, he loved to tell jokes, he liked to play pranks and he was very, very kind to me. I will always remember him, I will always love him, I think about him often, even though he’s deceased now and I feel like there’s nobody like him. I always looked up to Michael, not only as a great uncle, but as a great musician.
LATP: You also have a famous dad Tito Jackson, who is embarking on a world tour with the Jackson 4, at the moment. Lets talk about that:
TJ: When the group came to New York, I did have the chance to see my dad and I thought he was very, very good on stage- I thought he was great! I thought they did a wonderful job. They’re getting old, so they are not moving like they used to back in the day, but they didn’t do bad at all. They made a very smart choice with the song selections.
LATP: So Tanay, you are an artist yourself, obviously I have listened to your music and I love it, who are your influences, other than the musical family that you grew up with.
TJ: Prince, Chaka Khan, Chris Brown- believe it or not.
LATP: What about the whole process of working on your album, including the writing? Explain to us how you seclude yourself away from all the madness just to get your songwriting done. What do you do to get prepared for all that?
TJ: Well actually, some of my best songwriting comes when I’m about to go to sleep. You know when you’re sleeping, but you’re not quite there yet? Like half asleep, half awake? That’s when the lyrics start coming into my head and I get up and I start writing it down. Some of my best songs, have came that way.
LATP: May I hear some bars, from some of your songs?
TJ: (Starts singing..)
LATP: Where can we check out your songs, so the fans can tune in and buy your music?
TJ: I have 2 singles on itunes and you can check out my youtube page at www.youtube.com/7Tanay7, I’m on Facebook, I’m on Twitter. Now, I am improving my YouTtube channel, a lot of the videos, the sound quality is not that good. That’s going to be changed, we’ll be shooting some new videos so, watch out for that!
LATP: Are you going to come and visit us on the west coast?
TJ: I’m going to be on the west coast, coz you know, the Jackson family reunion is every summer, so I’m going to be in LA in August all the way to September, coz my mom is also going to celebrate her birthday in september. My mom is a very good woman, she’s like a true mother, she really cares and would give her last dime, for her child
LATP: Are you open to doing collaborations with other artists?
TJ: I don’t mind doing collaborations with other artists, you know? I always feel that two heads are better than one and I’m a creative mind and I like to see what can come out of creating with other people who are like me.
LATP: Who is one of your ideal future collaborators?
TJ: Well, you know women are fiesty, but I would collaborate with Rihanna, but I don’t know if she would want to do that with me, because women are fiesty, I would also want to collaborate with M.I.A
LATP: What is one of your all time favorite Michael Jackson songs, my personal favorite is Human Nature, what is yours?
TJ: Oh my God, I have so many, you’re putting me on the spot, lol. You know what? “Remember The Time” and “You Rock My World” and I am saying that, coz I was in the video. (She chuckles)
LATP: Oh really? Which video were you in?
TJ: I was in Remember The Time.
LATP: I also have a friend that who was also in that video. Which part of the video were you in?
TJ: I was in the dance sequence
LATP: What an experience..
TJ: Yeah, it was weird too, I was a dancer first and you know I auditioned and the guy who used to dance at the dance school I was at, he heard that Michael was looking for extra dancers for the video, they auditioned me, I made it and when I went to the second round, he said oh yeah, put her in there!
LATP: That’s historic!
TJ: Yeah
LATP: That’s amazing and that song and that video, it was elaborate, that’s what I have to say about that video. It had Iman in it too, it was amazing
TJ: Yeah, I told Michael, you can’t kiss coz if you kiss Iman, it would really embarrass me lol, you can’t kiss lol.
LATP: The Jackson children, Paris, Blanket and Prince, I hear they’re musical also, is this true?
TJ: I really don’t know, I know that Michael’s children are musical. I don’t know if Paris is musical, I don’t know if the other one’s are musical, maybe they’re too young to tell yet.
LATP: Of course it would run in the family, with all you guys coming from such a talented family.
LATP: So what’s coming up next for you Tanay, as you mentioned, you are coming out to the west coast, do you have any shows planned?
TJ: Yes, right now, my shows have stopped until august, strictly because I am in and out of the studio trying to fix my package so I can get it right so I can present it to the world. There’s a possible reality show in the works, and I’m just working hard on all of those things right now.
LATP: So you’re on the east coast? You’re in New York correct?
TJ: Right now, I’m in New York, yes.
LATP: So what do you think of New York compared to LA? It’s like night and day right?
TJ: Yes, it is. It’s night and day as far as the people and the environment definitely. LA is more tropical and it’s more laid back, but people can BS you a lot. But here in New York, if somebody doesn’t like you, they will tell you “get outta my face” and “leave me alone”. Lol
LATP: Do you have any plans on possibly going to Australia for a tour?
TJ: Yes, when I become more national, yeah. Right now I’m not national, I’m just starting out. But of course, Australia would be a place I would go to, even England.
LATP: Thank you for your time, Tanay
TJ: And Thank you, for having me!
To see and learn more about Tanay Jackson:
www.facebook.com/tanay.jackson.1
