Tiffany Evans: ‘Baby Whitney’

In 2003, Tiffany Evans sang for executives at Columbia Records and was quickly offered a deal. Her self-titled debut album was originally released as an eight-track EP in 2004 that included a bonus DVD. Limited copies of this EP were available at a few online retailers and at Limited Too! stores, before being quickly pulled. Now with her musical career again on the upswing, guidance from Ciara, and upcoming singles with Chris Brown and Ne-Yo Tiffany is poised to make her mark on the industry

Singersroom: Could you tell us about your upcoming album?

Tiffany Evans: My album is self-titled and it will be out November 20th. Expect production from Ne-Yo, The Clutch, Bo Dozier, Mr. Collipark remixed “Promise Ring” and of course Ciara is on the album. It’s just a very fun, very chill and funky album. Something everyone can relate to including the older crowd; people that are older than me. I feel like they can relate to it because it’s a mature album and it’s very young. I feel like its just right for everybody because everybody can listen to it and understand where I’m coming from.

Singersroom: We were introduced to you when you were ten-years-old on Star Search, Showtime at the Apollo, Oprah, etc. Do you think you have grown a lot from then?

Tiffany Evans: I’ve grown so much! I’m not just saying that because a lot of people say “I feel like I’ve grown!” because they want to be but I feel like I’ve grown naturally, mentally, and physically. Especially physically because my look has changed. I’m not a little girl anymore; I can definitely say that I am a young woman. My vocals have matured and I have learned a lot. I understand a lot more than I use to.

Singersoom: You went on the Scream Tour this year. What was it like working with other young up and coming artists? Did they give you tons of advice and did you learn a lot about yourself on the tour?

Tiffany Evans: It was a blessing and I definitely thank God for that opportunity because I actually got to experience real touring. Lloyd, T.I., T-Pain, and Young Joc are like my family now. I would come out during Ciara’s set and do “Promise Ring.” I would also come out in her second set again and she would tell the audience all about me and my life. You know what? Every night was a great night. There are a lot of people who know who I am but there are more that don’t know who I am. Every night when I would come out I had this insecurity that nobody knew who I was and I still feel that way all the time. Whenever I’d come out people would say “Oh my god! It’s Tiffany Evans!” and I’d tell myself “You know what? I need to just chill out because these people already know. No need to get nervous.” It was very fun.

Singersroom: The Scream Tour doesn’t really have many female acts so were you nervous about how the audience was going to react to you and Ciara performing? You had to prove yourself in front of such a hardcore fanbase that is mostly made up of young females that come to see the hottest male acts.

Tiffany Evans: You know what? I still got nervous. I get nervous period. Female artists are never really on (the) Scream Tour and it’s usually about a lot of boy bands. The first night was good! Even though they wanted to see T.I. and all of the cute guys, because it’s just about the guys, it felt good because we were able to beat that. We let them know that just because we’re not guys doesn’t mean girls don’t love us too. It was intimidating at first but we still got the same amount of love as everybody else. What boosted my confidence a bit was when I did a show with Chris Brown in Jersey and I just knew that these girls were going to tell me to shut up “We want to see Chris Brown!” but instead I got “Oh My God it’s Tiffany Evans!” and they gave me so much love.

Singersroom: When you finally break through the industry and gain a bit of fame the people that grew up around you sometimes tend to get jealous and turn their back on you. I’ve read a lot of people in the entertainment business, especially younger entertainers comment on how people that they thought were their friends ended up turning on them out of jealously. Has this happened to you and how do you deal with it?

Tiffany Evans: I was home schooled so I didn’t experience too much of it, but, people that I knew already were a little jealous. I would tell my friends “You know what? No matter what happens, no matter how big anyone gets or how big I get, I am still Tiffany Evans.” The Tiffany Evans that fights with her little brothers. I’m still Tiffany and none of this really phases me because I don’t want it. It’s just a job and we all are famous for what we do. As far as me being Tiffany Evans to my fans, I am also the same Tiffany that hangs out at home and just chills with everybody. I don’t want them to think that they are losing me.

Singersroom: How do you balance being in the industry and being a growing teenager?

Tiffany Evans: My family! If I didn’t have family around me then I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. It’s such a strong foundation and they really help me out a lot. Even though I don’t get to see them as much anymore they still keep me grounded. They still tell me “Tiffany? If you ever want to come home and chill just let us know. If it gets hard, just let us know.” We being God fearing also helps me out as well.

Singersroom: How does your family feel about your career?

Tiffany Evans: They are one thousand percent behind my back and they are proud of me. Of course, there are a lot of things that they won’t understand but they are going through the whole thing with me. The whole struggle with me, trying to get where I want to be, just as long as I don’t change, then they are fine.

Singersroom: How do you feel about being a role-model and how much pressure has come with being one?

Tiffany Evans: It is hard because I do make mistakes and with me being in the spotlight with people watching me 24/7. It’s hard for people to understand that you do mess up. There is definitely a lot of pressure but it’s good for me because it keeps me on a straight path. —— By: Interview by Erin Lang