Tisha Campbell-Martin’s new single “Steel Here” is a declaration to her presence and love of music, which was her first love before acting.
Before her iconic role as “Gina” on 1990’s hit show 'Martin' and he role as “Jay” on My Wife and Kids, Tisha, 46, says music was her first form of expression. "This is where it all began for me. I am a singer first, and acting came later. Being an actress is what I do but music is who I am,” she said in a statement. “I feel most comfortable behind the mic…As an artist, I want to affect people. I like to make people laugh, think, shed a tear, heal…This outlet is important to me because I can connect to people in a different way."
“Steel Here” dropped last month to a bevy of support from fans. The song received 6000 streams within the first two hours of it being posted on SoundCloud. Tisha says she didn’t expect that response, telling EURweb, “I’m still overwhelmed, and it’s still a little surreal.”
The song came about when B.Slade (a.k.a. gospel artist Tonex) heard her sing in LA’s Xen Lounge, the restaurant she owns with her husband, actor Duane Martin. “[B.Slade] came in and said, ‘I know what to do with your voice.’ I was a little leery because the music business, there are so many people, producers who have come and said, ‘I know what to do with you, call me tomorrow,’ and then they don’t call you tomorrow.” A few months later, Martin called Slade and they created “Steel Here,” the first offering from her upcoming album (a release date and title still yet to be announced).
About the LP, Tisha says it has a lot of hip-hop influence, and she even raps a bit. “It’s really a celebration of myself and coming through all of the obstacles and not considering my age, or whether I’m put in a box or not. I just wanted to sing,” she said.
Along with an upcoming album, Martin will co-star in the upcoming ABC sitcom “Dr. Ken.” What do you think about the direction Tisha is going with her upcoming album?
