INTERVIEW: R&B Singer-Songwriter TANYA NOLAN Keeps A Smile On Her Face As She Champions Herself & Rising Talent. Talks Starting Record Label, Becoming A Recording Academy Voting Member & MORE.

International singer-songwriter Tanya Nolan is a Top 100 Billboard Charting Artist, a 2Xs GRAMMY & NAACP Contender as well as Top 10 iTunes Charting Artist. From the looks of it – the R&B artist has accomplished a career’s worth of accomplishments but the hungry entrepreneur, singer and philanthropist is just getting started. She’s got a single that has reached Top 40 on the R&B Mediabase charts, has started her own Texas based record label, ArtsessionZ to promote up-and-coming talent and recently became a voting member of the Recording Academy – all as an independent artist. The sky is the limit for Nolan and luckily for All Access, she was able to take a break from her world domination to answer some questions about the single, “Smile On My Face,” what she hopes to accomplish by becoming a voting member of the Recording Academy, what five artists she’d listen to the rest of her life and MORE. Get to know Tanya Nolan through the full interview below:

ALL ACCESS [Austin]: Let’s start from the beginning, what is it about music that made you want to pursue a career in it?

TANYA NOLAN: I fell in love with music growing up as a kid listening to the songs of the legends in R&B. I knew I wanted to pursue music as a career the very first time that I walked out on a stage to sing. The feeling of being on stage and performing before a live audience is transforming.

AA: How has growing up in Texas – first in Galveston and now based in Houston – influenced your music? What other aspects of your life do you feel are the greatest influences to your music?

TN: I think that growing up in the state of Texas has influenced me as an artist in several ways. I started performing as a singer in Galveston when I was a teenager on the live stages of popular venues. I got a chance to develop my craft as a singer working out of the club circuit. There are so many great clubs in Galveston. I soon began touring throughout the area with my band performing in front of great crowds.

AA: Congrats on the success of your single “Smile On My Face.” Do you remember the first time you heard it on the radio? What was that like?

TN: Yes. I remember turning on Music Choice one day and I was listening to a song by Anthony Hamilton Then a few songs later, “Smile On My Face,” came up. That was a truly happy moment for me. I didn’t expect it.

I felt so grateful in that moment just to know that a song that I wrote and recorded could make it to R&B radio. I was so overjoyed to hear it the first time and each time.

LISTEN TO “SMILE ON MY FACE“

AA: “Smile On My Face” has over 2 million views on YouTube. In the world of social media and focus on numbers, do you find yourself getting caught up in “likes and engagement?” What would you define as true success of song?

TN: I usually focus on the comments from music fans and I respond to them. I enjoy responding to comments in that way and connect with music fans.

AA: In addition to being an artist yourself, you’re also a major champion for up-and-coming independent artists and recently started your own record label, ArtsessionZ in Houston. Why is supporting rising talent such an important cause? What is the #1 thing you tell these artists that you wish you would’ve know starting out?

TN: As a recording artist, it is important to have support for your development in music.

I started ArtsessionZ as a record label to create a space where I could record and release my own music and also bridge support to artists that the label takes on. I would say that the #1 thing I would tell artists who are starting out is to stay true to your sound and your voice as an artist.

AA: You’ve already had a lot of success so far being a Top 100 Billboard Charting Artist, 2x GRAMMY & NAACP Contender and Top 10 iTunes Charting Artist – what do these accomplishments mean to you as you look at your overall career?

TN: I am grateful and thankful for these recognitions. It is inspiring to know that this can happen for independent artists.

AA: You were recently selected to be a voting member of the Recording Academy/GRAMMYs and you had a social media post along with the announcement that you are “honored to have an opportunity to celebrate and represent music creators across genres.” Is there anything specific within that goal that you hope to accomplish with being in such an influential position?

TN: I want to use my voice to support other music creators in this position. It is an honor to be a part of this in this way.

AA: If you could headline a music festival or music event which one would be a dream to do so?

TN: I would headline the Essence Music Festival and Bonnaroo. These stages are phenomenal and the music fans that attend make them dream festivals for me.

AA: If you could only listen to (5) artists for the rest of your life, who would they be?

TN: Tanya Nolan, Michael Jackson, Prince, The Bee Gees, and Earth Wind and Fire.

AA: Finally, what can fans expect from you for the rest of 2021 and into 2022?

TN: I have a holiday song and music video coming out soon. The name of the holiday release is, “Santa Claus Is Early Tonight”. I also have a brand new R&B song that I will be releasing at the top of 2022.

Congrats to Tanya Nolan on all the success so far! All Access was honored to have the opportunity to interview Nolan and look forward to the continued success and those upcoming holiday and R&B songs! Follow along with her journey and the upcoming song releases through the links below:

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