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Rising R & B star Mya started her career as a dancer, but it didn't take long for her to recognize her vocal talent. Born in Washington, D.C., Mya Harrison began taking dance lessons in 1982 when she was only two. Although she lost interest for several years, her passion was re-ignited in 1992. She studied tapes of tap prodigy Savion Glover, best know as the mastermind behind the Broadway smash Bring In Da Noise, Bring In Da Funk, and joined the dance troupe T.W.A. (Tappers With Attitude). She left the group after a short while to study at the legendary Dance Theater of Harlem with Glover. Her flair for improvisation impressed the tap savant and he gave her a solo spot during a Kennedy Center performance. By age 15, Mya's musical side began to take over and she perfected her vocal ability with the help of her father, a professional musician. When he realized that his daughter was serious about a career in music, Mya's father began shopping around her demo tape, eventually catching the interest of University Music president and CEO Haqq Islam. At 16 Mya had her own recording contract.For the next two years, the teenager prepared for her debut, collaborating with high-power talent like Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Diane Warren, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and members of Dru Hill. Signed to Interscope Records, Mya spent the next two years recording her debut album in New York, Philadelphia and Atlanta with notable contributors including labelmates Dru Hill, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Babyface, Darryl Pearson and Diane Warren. Released in April 1998, Mya was a mature urban R&B collection built around the singer's assured vocals and reflective lyrics. "It's All About Me" featured Sisqo of Dru Hill, and climbed to US number 6 in May. Mya maintained her high profile with appearances on Pras' hit single "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)", taken from the soundtrack to the Warren Beatty movie Bulworth. In September, her album climbed to a US chart peak of 29, and "Movin' On", featuring No Limit Records' star Silkk The Shocker, reached number 34 on the Hot 100 singles chart. "Take Me There", a collaboration with BLACKstreet, Ma$e and Blinky Blink taken from the Rugrats soundtrack, reached number 14 in January 1999. The subsequent Babyface/Diane Warren collaboration, "My First Night With You", surprisingly failed to break into the US Top 50. Mya subsequently retreated to the studio to work on her sophomore set, Fear Of Flying, which featured the US Top 5 hit "Case Of The Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do)".
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