Singer, songwriter and actress, Tamia has emerged over the past three years as one of the leading artists of a new generation of musical voices. With the release of her self-titled debut album, the twenty-one-year old Canadian native confirms her position as the female vocalist to watch in the coming years.

Blending a mix of rhythmic dance songs and soulful ballads, Tamia deftly displays the maturity and self-confidence that the singer has developed since making her recording debut on Quincy Jones' multi-platinum album Q's Jook Joint. There, her vocal performance on the first single, "You Put A Move On My Heart," took her straight to the top of the charts.

With a company of accomplished producers at the boards, Tamia displays a range of tempo and mood that reveals the heart and soul of the artist it celebrates. Tamia puts your body in motion with her up-tempo first single "Imagination," and with "Is That You?" Both tracks were produced by influential and prolific hip-hop producer, Jermaine Dupri. Stevie J. continues the vibe with "Falling For You." Keith Crouch delivers the sultry mid-tempo "Gotta Move On," while Tim Kelly and Bob Robinson's "So Into You" will definitely put you in the mood for romance. Both songs were co-written by Tamia.

The album is rounded out by an array of sensual, sexy ballads. Mario Winans takes you into a different world with "Rain On Me," which Tamia co-wrote and Quincy Jones co-produced. The team of Tricky & Sep produced "This Time It's Love," also co-written by Tamia, which explores the deeper meaning of love. Last, but undeniably not least, Daryl Simmons speaks to your soul with the stimulating and arousing "Loving You Still."

Adding to the magic and romance is director Paul Hunter, with a fantasy video rendering of "Imagination" which explores Jean Cocteau's classic interpretation of the fairy tale, Beauty And The Beast.

Born in Windsor, Ontario, Tamia began studying voice, acting and singing at age ten, performing in numerous local theater and choral productions, as well as in her church choir. Along the way, she garnered her fair share of distinctions, including Canada's prestigious YTV Vocal Achievement Award in 1993, and the Steve Ross Music Scholarship at the American Academy of Achievement's Annual Salute To Excellence in 1994.

Also, in 1994, Tamia met music mogul Quincy Jones at a party for Luther Vandross, hosted by her manager, Brenda Richie - an encounter that would change her life. A year later, Tamia found herself in a recording studio with Jones and Grammy Award-winning songwriter Rod Temperton, laying down the vocals for "You Put A Move On My Heart."

The song rose to the Top 10 of the Billboard R&B chart and garnered Tamia her first Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Her second nomination, for Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocals, came as a result of teaming with Babyface on Jones' next single, "Slow Jams." Tamia received a third Grammy nomination, Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, for her work with Brandy and music icons Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan on the single "Missing You," from the Set It Off soundtrack. Three Grammy nominations without having completed an album of her own-impressive to say the least.

The three songs, "You Put A Move On My Heart," "Slow Jams" and "Missing You," gained Tamia additional recognition with nominations from the Soul Train Music Awards and the NAACP Image Awards, prompting Newsweek magazine to name her one of the ten new faces to watch in 1996.

Tamia vigorously worked at putting together a collection of the best songs, enlisting the services of top producers, and returned to the studio to begin recording her debut album.

Tamia's only break in the recording of her album came when she filmed the role of Sheri Silver in Speed II, Cruise Control, playing the part of a featured vocalist at the dinner theatre aboard the luxury cruise ship which provided the setting for the action film. The sensual ballad "Make Tonight Beautiful," written by award-winning songwriter Diane Warren, and produced by Keith Thomas, is one of the film's pivotal musical moments and was included in the movie soundtrack album.

In her brief time in the spotlight, Tamia has achieved significant success, as well as gaining the respect and admiration of her peers. But she's only just begun. She continues to grow musically and personally-exquisitely evidenced by her new Qwest release, Tamia - and as she branches out into film, TV and theater, she is perfectly poised to be the female performer of the twenty-first century!