Soul Sessions: Mýa

Mýa: definition of the multi-hyphenate entertainer. Since releasing her eponymous debut album Mýa in 1998 at the age of 18, Mýa has become a staple in the pop cultural zeitgeist across genres, platforms, and mediums, around the world.  Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and producer Mýa is globally recognized and celebrated as a musician and true artist.  As a Screen Actors Guild award winning actress, Mýa has made herself an indelible talent across film, television, Broadway, and gaming. Mýa Marie Harrison’s resume is a reflection of the unique and authentic artistry that has maintained a career spanning 25 diverse, exciting and empowering years as the portrait of a true artist and business woman.  Mýa’s alluring talent echoes around the globe and across decades as a beloved singer, actress, dancer, choreographer, model, philanthropist, activist, and entrepreneur. In 2023, Mýa marks her 25^th anniversary in the entertainment industry. Mýa’s musical journey began in 1998 with the release of her self-titled debut album, which went double platinum and produced hit singles such as “It’s All About Me,” with Sisqo, “Movin On,” and “My First Night With You.”

Notable collaborations also catapulted Mýa as a cross-genre staple with features on the iconic “Ghetto Supastar” with Pras & ODB, “Girls Dem Suga” with Beenie Man and “Take Me There,” with Blackstreet. Her second album, Fear of Flying, released in 2000, also went double platinum and featured the popular hits “Case of the Ex,” “Free,” and “Best of Me.” In 2001, Mýa collaborated with Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, P!nk, and Missy Elliott on a cover of LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade,” which was featured in Baz Luhrman’s “Moulin Rouge.” The song became the most successful airplay-only single in history and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration. Mýa’s third studio album, Moodring, released in 2003, was critically acclaimed and featured hit singles like “My Love Is Like Wo,” “Fallen,” and LGBTQ+  fan favorite “Whatever Bitch”, as well as the promotional single, “Real Compared to What” with Common, which was used as the Coca-Cola theme song. Mýa’s musical collaborators include Baby Face, David Foster, Diane Warren, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Wyclef Jean, Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Blackstreet, Bounty Killer, Swizz Beatz, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Bun B, Cassidy, Cedric Gervais, Chamillionaire, Christina Aguilera, Common, Cuban Link, Dionne Warwick, Dru Hill, Eddie Serano, Elephant Man, Eric Bellinger, Foxy Brown, Gladys Knight, Ginuwine, GoldLink, Guy Sebastian, Fabolous, Jadakiss, Jay-Z, Junior Sanchez, Kevin Lyttle, Kymani Marley, Lil’ Eddie, Lil’ Flip, Lil’ Kim, Lil’ Wayne, Amanda Lepore, Lloyd Banks, Marques Houston, Mase, Missy Elliott, Nicki Minaj, Noreaga, O.D.B.. Phil Ade, Pink, Pras, Raekwon, Ray-J, Rockwilder,  Rodney Jerkins, Scott Storch, Silkk the Shocker, Sisqo, Slim Thug, Spice, Teddy Riley, Timbaland, Tink, The Pharcyde, Tracy Young, Tricky Stewart, Trina, Wayne Wonder, Rod Temperton, and more. From 2004-2007, Mýa released a number of projects, including recording the theme songs for Disney’s “Atlantis” with Diane Warren and  EA’s “James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing” video game in which she also voiced a character. Her performance in Rob Marshall’s Academy Award Winning film  “Chicago” earned Mýa a Screen Actors Guild award.

Mýa’s promotional singles “Ayo” & “Lock U Down” featuring Lil Wayne became NYFW staples, as the soundtrack to fashion shows, including the first live streamed fashion show to license music from a recording artist for a digital broadcast, innovating and embracing the digital music landscape. In 2008, Mýa began her own independent label, Planet 9. She released nine different compilations on the label, including “Sugar & Spice” (2008, Japan), “The Perfect Edition” (double disc, 2009, Japan), and the R&B/hip hop mixtape “Beauty & the Streets” Vol 1 (2010). In 2011, Mýa released the album “K.I.S.S.” (Keep It Sexy & Simple) in Japan and later released a worldwide edition of the album in 2012. In 2014 Mýa released two EP’s “With Love” and “Sweet XVI” followed by a third EP in 2015 titled “Love Elevation Suite”.  Mýa’s 2016 album, “Smoove Jones” was nominated by the Recording Academy for a Grammy Award for “Best R&B Album” followed by the release of her “T.K.O (The Knock Out)” Album in 2018 and 13 separate single releases from 2019 through 2021. In addition to her music career, Mýa has made notable acting appearances on screen and stage, including the Oscar winning film “Chicago,” Wes Craven’s “Cursed,” various Miramax films “Dirty Dancing II: Havana Nights” and “Shall We dance” and most recently, 2023’s “House Party.” Mýa has also appeared on television shows such as NCIS, VH1’s “Girl’s Cruise,” Lifetime TV’s Christmas film “My Favorite Christmas Melody”, UMC’s “5th Ward,” Tubi’s “Lazarus,” The Documentary “They’re Trying to Kill Us,” EA’s “James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing,” ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” Nickelodeon’s “Yo Gabba Gabba!” and more. In 2022, Mýa made a surprise appearance with Christina Aguilera for a “Lady Marmalade” reunion at LA PRIDE with Kim Petras, Paris Hilton and the Broadway cast of Moulin Rouge!, which garnered international press coverage and a record-breaking resurgence in sales, streams and catalog marketing. Mýa has maintained commercial and critical success by staying connected with her global fan base using emerging technologies and touring the globe with recent highlights including Live Nation’s “Femme it Forward” Tour and International LGBTQ+ Pride Festivals. Mýa’s philanthropic endeavors include serving as a spokesperson for various organizations, including being the first US Ambassador for World Animal Protection, The Humane Society, North Shore Animal League, PETA, NOH8 Campaign, Susan G. Komen’s Stop Breast Cancer for Life, GLAAD, Save The Music, Rock the Vote, NAACP, (RED), MusiCares and her very own, Mýa Arts & Tech Foundation, founded in 2005. She has also been involved in various brand partnerships with companies such as Coca-Cola, Pantene, Escada, Motorola, Microsoft, Dell, Apple Music, Verizon, Macy’s, Cover Girl, Chevrolet, TikTok, IMG, Heatherette, Kohl’s, EA, Meta, BMF, and more. Mýa has secured high profile sync and licensing placements with major media outlets such as NBCUniversal, Bravo, Ford, Lifetime, HBO, CBS, ABC, Paramount/Viacom, Fox, and others. Mýa is also an active voice in the Vegan community, and advocate for clean, compassionate eating, living and wellness. As Mýa prepares to release her next studio projects, she continues to tour globally and captivate audiences with her live performances. Her impact on the entertainment and music industry is undeniable, and she shows no signs of slowing down. On February 14, 2023, Mýa celebrated 25 years in the music industry as a Grammy Award-winning artist, respected singer, songwriter, producer, musician, dancer, choreographer, actress, activist, and philanthropist. With all her noted accomplishments, Mýa is, in her own words, “just getting started with the best yet to come.”