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Interview
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The answer is yes! Yes you
have probably heard her, heard of her and from her somehow,
somewhere, especially if you have been following any of the
projects and releases The RZA (Wu-Tang Clan) has been putting
out since 2005. Thea Van Seijen, who hails from The Netherlands
and resides partially in Europe and USA is the new
soul/Jazz/Hip-hop sensation discovered by The RZA. RZA's gift
for discovering talents is always on point and remains so to
date, a chance meeting outside a studio in Lankershim Boulevard,
California with RZA's cousin Daddy O began the musical
expedition for Thea, who is blessed with a voice most normally
compare to the likes of the renowned Billie Holliday.
Thea is easily conspicuous within the Wu family tree, apart from
her charming looks and great inspirational voice; she pretty
much stands out in every other way. Most of Rza’s protégés,
discoveries and Wu affiliated artists have primarily been men,
which is a typical trend common in hip-hop and most of these
artists, soloist or groups have predominately been African
Americans.
Wu has always been innovative and trend setting so it came at no
surprise when RZA signed the likes of Remedy (Jewish MC from
Staten Island) years before Dr. Dre signed Eminem, as well as
Dom Pachino from Killarmy and later Wu Latino (Hispanic
background) and even stretching outside USA to sign Cilvaringz,
the first non American artist from The Netherlands in Europe. In
a male dominated hip-hop scene few women have also aligned
themselves within the Wu from the likes of the talented Tekitha,
Blue Raspberry and Tash Mahogany to the all female group Deadly
Venoms.
Thea Van Seijen (her real name), is the first female affiliated
with the legendary Wu legacy that is white, not a male and not
from America. Why should that matter? Hearing her golden voice
tear through songs is enough to captivate any listener
regardless of race, sex and geographical location. Her vocal
style comes across as being strongly inspired by Jazz but fused
with hip-hop instrumentalists with a deep personal and intimate
approach to singing. It’s the skills and gift that Thea had that
made RZA enlist her as his new found protégé, Thea was
introduced to the world on the hit song “Baby Boy” in 2005 off
the Unleash soundtrack and have gone on to feature on numerous
projects from the Bobby Digital Digisnax to more soundtracks
such as Derailed, and Afro Samurai 1 and 2. With these high
profile collaborations, still not much is know about her,
especially as it seems she is keen on keeping a very low profile
and let the music speak for itself, or perhaps she is waiting
for the right moment to come all out? Either way one thing is
evident, Thea is a star in the making and only time will tell…
Well that’s of course if the Wu fans let it, as Thea has been
the subject of discussions on different forums on the net and
our emails is still flooded with questions regarding her and her
music, Wu-Tang International has managed to catch up with her
for an exclusive interview to give the fans a little bit of her
backgrounds and what is to come. Enjoy |
I like to say thanks first and foremost for
taking the time to answer these questions, highly
appreciated, and will also point out that nothing will be
altered, edited or changed when this is published online.
Wu-Internationals: Peace Thea, How are you?
Thea: I'm fine....
Wu-Internationals:
Please introduce yourself to the fans, who you are, where
you are from and where you are currently residing?
Thea: I am Thea, born and raised in the Netherlands...I
live wherever I am...
Wu-Internationals: Thea Van Seijen your real name?
Thea: Yes it is my real name...
Wu-International: Do you have any other names
or nick names you go by?
Thea: No nick names, just call me Thea.
Wu-International: How long have you been singing?
Thea: Since I was fourteen.
Wu-Internationals : Who would you say your musical
influences are?
Thea: Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Louis Armstrong
and Charlie Parker.
Wu-International: What is like growing up in Amsterdam?
Thea: I was born outside of Amsterdam. I was raised in a
small town called Leeuwarden.
Wu-Internationals: We read that a friend of RZA’s
was trying to chat you up when you walked past RZA’s studio
and found out you could sing resulting in you meeting and
getting to work with the RZA? Please give us your own
encounter of how you met RZA and what it was like?
Thea: I was walking on Lankershim Boulevard and RZA's
cousin 'Daddy O' saw me walk across the street. He asked me
what I did and I said that I was a singer. After he heard me
sing he took me over to RZA and that same week me and RZA
started recording.
Wu-International: Cool, where did all this happen?
Thea: This happend in North Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Wu-International: How soon did you start recording with
The RZA and what was the first song you did?
Thea: We started recording the same week we met and
the first song we recorded was 'I love you' that is on the
'Derailed' soundtrack.
Wu-International: Prior to meeting RZA, where you a fan
of his or Wu-Tang Clan’s music?
Thea: I've always loved the Wu-Tang.
Wu-International: So what is it like working with the
Abbott, RZA?
Thea: RZA is like a mentor to me.. We have a great
work chemistry, I learn so much from him.
Wu-International: Obviously the first female outside the
US to be affiliated with the Wu, what do you think makes you
stand out as a singer, within or outside of the Wu?
Thea: I feel that everybody is unique in their
own way.
Wu-International: While different, your story is similar
to that of another Wu-Tang affiliate Cilvaringz who is also
from Holland, do you know him personally or worked with him
yet?
Thea: I heard a lot of great things about him (Ringz)
but we still haven't met...
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Wu-International: Tektiha, Blue Raspberry and
currently Tash Mahogany have been down with The Wu before
you, do you know any of them aand what's your thoughts on
them?
Thea:
I met Tash and Tekitha, I haven't met Blue Raspberry yet but
they all sound great.
Wu-International: Without an album out
fans are already debating about you in forums, how does that
make you feel?
Thea:
I am very happy of where I am today.
Wu-International: You have mostly done
collaborations and feature songs, fans want to know if and
when you will be putting out a full length album?
Thea:
I am in the process of putting an album together.
Wu-International: How would you describe
your style of music?
Thea:
My style is a crossover from jazz to hip-hop. |
Wu-International: What’s your creative process like, how
do you approach a song or hook?
Thea: Everything what I sing and write is from the
heart.
Wu-International: What emotion helps you make the best
song?
Thea: I listen to my heart...
Wu-International: Which song or songs would you say are
your best work to date and why?
Thea: I feel that every song that I did is special.
The song 'Baby Boy' is very special to me..
Wu-International: Do you only sing in English or will
you do Dutch someday?
Thea:
Maybe a Dutch song who knows...
Wu-International: Thanks, I believe there are more to
come, what do you normally do when not recording or making
music, as in hobbies, general interests, etc?
Thea: You will catch me sometimes chilling at
Starbucks.
Wu-International: What projects or collaborations are
you currently working on apart from your album if any?
Thea: Just keep your ears and eyes open.
Wu-International: There is not much information about
you online, how can the fans keep up to date with Thea?
Thea: Just look me up on myspace
THEAVANSEIJEN
Wu-International:
So
any last words, shouts outs for the fans?
Thea: 'Love yourself and your loved ones!'
Wu-International: Humble indeed, thanks very much again, good luck on
all your endeavours and we look forward to hearing more from
you in the near future, Dark 7 signing off, Peace
Stay up to date with Thea@
http://www.myspace.com/theavanseijen
<Read Other Interviews> |
