Na'Shay - "First To Fall" (official music video):

Na’Shay

R U Ready

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South of the City of Angels lives a vibrant yet small town called Carson, California. Known for its multi-cultural atmosphere, Carson isn’t exactly the bevy of celebrity birthing but every once in a while, a mysterious marvel comes from an unexpected place. Carson’s current amazing grace would be the stunning songbird and R&B princess Na’Shay. A recent signee to the renowned Ruthless Records, Na’Shay is the new face of rhythm and blues music and her debut album R U Ready will prove it.
Na’Shay, 19, released her first note as early as toddlerhood. “My mother bought me this tape recorder and every time one of the songs would finish I would start it all over and sing it all the way through,” the shy yet jovial Na’Shay recalls. The songs that happened to be playing were the work of distinguished artists Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Hi-Five. It was these artists who would inspire an adolescent Na’Shay as she went on to perform at talent shows and sing in school choir. As the only girl among her siblings, Na’Shay was outgoing when it came to singing and heavily supported by her parents who also came from a musical background. But by the age 12, things took a turn for Na’Shay. Recognizing the true strength and ability of her gift, she had the opportunity to begin recording in a professional studio with production company Monopoly Music. “What I learned from the studio is doing things over and over again so that you get the song just right and you have all the back-up vocals properly place,” Na’Shay speaks of her early experience. Throughout the years, Na’Shay would continue to hone her craft.
By her teens, Na’Shay consistently recorded music while showcasing her talent at local venues. Soon enough she had the right amount of material for her demo. With the music constantly developing, Na’Shay, a natural dancer, began learning choreographed material and perfecting her stage presence. “When it comes to performing I’m always nervous right before but as far as this career goes, that’s the one thing I can say I love the most.” As Na’Shay’s overall musical presentation became more refined, her demo was shopped around to various record labels. Ruthless Records immediately took interest.
The first meeting was in 2005 and a relationship was established instantly. “Ruthless said they wanted to try some R&B acts out and I was nervous at first because it was really happening,” Na’Shay recounts. With the excitement of a potential record deal, Na’Shay and the employees of Ruthless worked doggedly to reach the right agreement. Pretty soon, her finished demo became the starting point for a new album. Ruthless took the material that was star quality and added a super shiny polish. “I went into the studio and changed things here and there and recorded new music,” says Na’Shay. Her days were filled with creating tunes with new producers when she wasn’t being homeschooled. Part of fashioning R U Ready required Na’Shay to go to Atlanta for a change of scenery. Upon return, with more song in tow, her album was reaching the mastering stage.
“The beauty of my songs is that they’re not just to dance to, they have meaning behind them,” Na’Shay describes her work. A collection of ballads, mid tempo harmonies, and a few up tempo dance records, R U Ready is an undisputed breath of fresh air in the face of R&B music. One of the lead singles, “The First” speaks so eloquently to a young lady’s position on when and when not to call a potential paramour over a signature, sensual, sexy groove found throughout the album. Similarly, the duet “My Mama Ain’t Home,” which Na’Shay co-wrote, follows in the instrumental tradition of classic R&B songs, invoking a soft yet strong emotional vibe. The title track, “R U Ready”, which Na’Shay hails as one of her favorite records, takes the tempo up a notch with an 8-0-8 percussion drum beat riding under the singer’s effervescent yet soothing and gentle vocals. It’s songs like the aforementioned works of art that aptly define Na’Shay’s place, a position of longevity and abundance, in music. A necessary newness, there’s only one answer to Na’Shay’s R U Ready… Affirmative...