Regular Columnists

Artist: Tia
CD Review: Genre: Adult Contemporary Pop
Sounds Like: Eden's Crush
Technical Grade: 10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 9
Commercial Value: 9
Overall Talent Level: 9
Songwriting Skills: 9
Performance Skill: 8
Best Songs: Love Is About To Change, Don't You Think, It's Not Me
Weakness: Lack of increase in emotional intensity during choruses/Improvement on adlibs
CD Review: Tia, a singer/songwriter from LA via Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sent me a demo to evaluate that she is using to secure representation. She won't be looking for represenation for very long.

Tia's songwriting skills are superior to many of her peers and competitiors. She has a ferociously tight grip on the the fundamentals of songwriting and is well-versed on the 6 Rules Of Commercial Success . Anyone who is considering managing her as an artist will quickly discover that the powerbrokers in the industry will probably be more interested in her refined songwriting skills (and lending them to other artists) than they will be in the angelic and technically correct soprano that she brings to the table along with her model looks.

The first and appropriately placed song on her demo, "Love Is Changing," would have been strong enough to get her instantly signed as an artist in 2002. Regardless of what year it is, it's a really good song and a slamming track, as is the Rodney Jerkins flavored tune, "Don't You Think." Should Tia choose the independent road, it would behoove her to use the guitar based and Pop flavored "It's Not Me" as her vehicle, which is more consistent with today's Pop hits.

Advice: Be prepared for confusion with regard to what other people think you should do with your immense songwriting and vocal talents. You must decide how you want to be presented and what you want to be presented as. LA is a big place but research and contacts make it much smaller.

http://www.abellanota.com/