Tamar Braxton
"The One"
When Tamar Braxton thinks about her music career thus far, one moment always sticks out. "I was 14-years-old, and I was singing background vocals for my sister Toni," she recalls. "Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown came to a show, and she kept pointing to the stage and talking. Afterwards, I humbly introduced myself to Whitney. She said, 'Your voice is amazing! You're going to be a star.' When she passed, I had this feeling. She never got to hear any of my songs, and I thought about that a lot while I was making this record." Experiences like that have shaped Braxton's music immensely, leading up to, Love and War, her second full-length album and first for Streamline Records. The singer-and-songwriter transfers those moments into impassioned and impactful songs with true soul. It's heartfelt, and it's honest. It's Tamar Braxton. In early 2012, she made a decision to return to the studio. Twelve years had passed since her major label debut, Tamar, but it finally felt right to delve into making music again. The artist had already endured the changing tides of the business and its tumultuous nature. This time, she wasn't going to bend for anyone or hold anything back. "This is the first record where my music has truly reflected who I am," she affirms. "One night when I was in the studio, everything clicked. I found the sound I'd been looking for within myself for years. I never had a chance to go as deep as I did. I'm not trying to be something I'm not. I have to be me. The vocals just poured out of me." One of the songs she cut that evening was the title track and first single. She co-wrote the lyrics with legendary writer LaShawn Daniels, and it examines the push and pull of a relationship as well as how real love can weather any storm. Over a slow sultry beat, Braxton's soulful delivery simply captivates. "I'd experienced love, but I never experienced passion until I met my husband," reveals Braxton. "It's a true reflection of our relationship. We fight hard, but we love even harder. We get through everything,and we keep going strong. That's the reality of what we have. I think a lot of people will be able to identify with it." They're also going to be able to identify with "Hot Sugar". It's a sizzling and sexy jam that's as playful as it is potent. She smiles, "I'm basically saying to my man, 'You miss me. You can't live without my sugar and kisses.' This is my fun side. It's high-energy, but I'm still expressing myself."