(Feb. 13, 2008) PCM's Melissa got the opportunity to speak with 15-year-old hip-hop artist Tiffany Evans. This young charismatic singer beat out American Idol's David Archuleta on Star Search and got signed to a major record label all when she was only 10-years-old! For more information on Tiffany check out her MySpace Page and her Official Site!

M: Hi! This is Melissa at Pop Culture Madness. How are you?

Tiffany Evans: I'm good. How are you?

M: I'm great! Thank you. So, do you have a long day of interviews ahead of you?

TE: Oh, well, yes. It has been. I've been working so hard. (laughing) But this is the last one I think.

M: Oh really! Well, good. Okay. Save the best for last. (laughing) So then, lets get right into things. I read online that you have nine siblings. What is it like to grow up with so many brothers and sisters?

TE: Oh, wow! Hard. (laughing) It's really fun. The house is always alive, you, know? It's really cool, like we're not selfish. If I had been an only child I probably would have been a little selfish, but since I have a lot of brothers and sisters, we're just so tight. I just love being around my family. They're all really sweet, and we're all musically inclined.

M: Where do you fall in between them? Are you like in the middle or the oldest?

TE: I'd be lucky number seven.

M: Lucky number seven!

TE: Yes, lucky number seven! I know. It's a good number.

M: It is a good number. So, what got you interested in music?

TE: Well, I kind of think that I was two, after I saw Whitney Houston singing "I Will Always Love You." I really loved… I fell in love with her after that, and she is like my inspiration and she actually made me want to start singing and making this out to be my career.

M: Two seems pretty young to be thinking about a career. (laughing)

T: (laughing) I know it seems weird that I say two, but some kids are talking like at two years old.

M: That's true. Who else would you say is your musical inspiration aside from Whitney?

TE: Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, The Temptations, Otis Redding. Really a lot of the old artists. I feel like their music was the best music, and they paved the way for us to be here now. When you hear them sing it's like they're singing with so much passion, and even if they weren't going through it, (laughing) you felt like they were going through it, and it was just amazing how they just brought a song to life, you know?

M: I completely agree with you. Would you say that you try to mimic them in your music or have you developed your own style?

TE: Oh, most definitely! Listening to them I almost mimic them in my music sometimes. I might get a little chance to just go off and do a little Otis Redding or my little Fitzgerald or something like that, but I definitely have my own unique sound as well.

M: I read that you won the Juniors Singers Division of Star Search.

TE: That's back when I was ten.

M: Would you say that led to your contract with Colombia Records?

TE: Yes. I got signed right after that.

M: That must have been really exciting for you, right? For a ten year old to get a contract.

TE: Yes, that was very exciting to me. Everything was happening so fast. I did the Oprah Show twice, and, you know, just a bunch of shows and everything was just coming quickly at me, so it was overwhelming.

M: You're planning to release your new self-titled album soon, and I read that you worked with Ciara on one of your songs?

TE: Yes. Promise Ring.

M: How was that like to work with her?

TE: Oh, she is really cool! She is an amazing person. She is just so sweet and fun and just working with her just opened a lot of doors for me, so she is really cool.

M: That's great.

TE: Yep, and the whole album comes out April 22nd, so look out for that!

M: Ok. I definitely will! So, how are you handling being a teenager with your singing career?

TE: Well, basically it is…Well I don't really know what fifteen is like. I would say that I really don't know what fifteen is like, but I will say that since I have brothers and sisters they keep me youthful. It's really hard, because, you know, I have made a lot of sacrifices and this job is not the easiest in the world and it doesn't come easy, but I love doing it and anybody that is doing this now you have to love doing it. If you don't love doing it, then I don't see how anybody could deal with it, but it's something that I'm happy with doing and sometimes it gets hard, but I still love it though.

M: It certainly seems that you have a passion for music and that you have a strong head on your shoulders.

TE: Definitely. Thank you.

M: So, you are almost sixteen right?

TE: Yep. This year.

M: Are you planning on getting a car?

TE: You know what? I thought about that. I am going to tell you, my mother is forcing me to have a party and she is like "Yeah. We are going to get you a car and have a party." And I'm like "I don't want a party. I just want a car and I just want to go and leave you guys and drive my life away," (laughing) But basically I would get a car, but I'd rather wait until the top of next year, because I feel like my brother, he might total the car.

M: Oh, okay. (laughing)

TE: I feel like he might crash it, so I don't want anything to do with him messing up my car. I'm going to wait until the top of next year, when I am able to get away from him, get the car, and drive.

M: So, do you have plans to go on tour?

TE: Definitely. I am getting ready to promote the new single "I'm Grown" and after the album comes out a bunch of summer tours. So, get ready for that. You just have to keep your ears open and your eyes glued.

M: Okay, I definitely will. So, how does the experience of performing live compare to recording your album in the studio?

TE: Because it just brings everything to life. It is just cool to perform your songs in front of people and actually see the reaction, and the hype is amazing. I feel like an album it does you justice, but not as much as you performing the record live.

M: You think you prefer performing live to recording?

TE: Absolutely! I mean, we'll cut the album and listen to it, and then when you come see me in concert it is much better, because it is like woah, okay, this is the real deal. It's live and it is fresh and it's cool.

M: Right. And the passion, like, comes through better.

TE: Yeah, and then you get to sing for that person, whatever you want to do it's the hype in everything that comes out in the live shows.

M: So, you have some experience in TV and film. Is that something you are interested in pursuing more?

TE: Most definitely! I love acting, and I definitely want to make acting a big part of my career, as well and so I'm really… I am going to venture off into that area and show you guys the acting side of me.

M: Well, that should be exciting to see. You're very charismatic! I checked out your MySpace page. How involved are you in maintaining your page?

TE: Oh, I love MySpace. I do MySpace every other, well I can't really say every other day. I go on MySpace when I get the chance, but I gotta update my layout soon. I just needed to say that. I gotta update my layout, but I love MySpace, and I am very involved with it. I like talking to my fans and keeping in touch with them.

M: Yeah! So, I was going to ask you feel that you are involved with your fans? Do you try to respond to their posts?

TE: Yep! I want them to feel like I'm accessible, you know? I want them to feel like they can reach me. They can even talk to me. You know what? Everybody, like the girls, all the young girls and all the older girls they'll be like "Hey sis!" and they don't know me, but they'll cal me sis. The MySpace sister! So, it's really cool that I get to have that relationship with my fans.

M: Can you tell our readers one interesting fact about yourself that we wouldn't already know?

TE: That I'm weird.

M: That your weird? How are you weird?

TE: Like, I am just very weird. I don't like eating in front of people. I am very shy to order my food.

M: (laughing) Does it like embarrass you for people to know that you have to eat sometimes?

TE: Yeah. I don't know. I am just a very…I'm not shy, but I am shy when it comes to food, because I know I eat a lot and everything. So, I am very weird and I have a big mouth.

M: Okay. Wait. Your shy and you have a big mouth?

TE: Yes. I am shy and I have a big mouth. See, I am very weird.

M: That is weird.

TE: I have a very big mouth. Sometimes, when I whisper, its not really whispering, because my mouth is big, and I'm so loud, so I just don't whisper.

M: So everyone hears your secrets?

TE: Yeah, and stuff like that. I am very goofy and like to crack jokes.

M: You seem like you'd be very fun to hang out with, so I can understand why you have such a strong following on MySpace.

TE: Of course, I'm a partier. (laughing)

M: Where do you see the future of your career heading in the next coming months?

TE: God willing, a couple Grammy's later. A million records later, and just, you know, doing what I do best and being recognized for it and just reaching my goals. All of my goals, and that's to win a Grammy and win a bunch of awards, and show what I can do.

M: Those are very admirable goals and we wish you all the best here.

TE: Thank you so much!

M: It was very great talking to you. You are a very charming young lady, and I think you are going to have a very successful career.

TE: Thank you so much and God Bless you, Sweetheart.

M: Thank you. Have a great afternoon.

TE: Later!