Mya (stylized as Mýa) is the debut album by American singer Mya. It was released by University Music Entertainment and Interscope Records on April 21, 1998, in the United States. The recording of the contemporary R&B album was overseen by University Records CEO A. Haqq Islam after he signed the singer when she was at the age of 15. The production on Mya was primarily handled by Swing Mob member Darryl Pearson with additional contributions from Daryl Simmons, Alex "Cat" Cantrall, Joey Priolo, and Nokio the N-Tity. Guest appearances include Dru Hill frontman Sisqó, and rappers Silkk the Shocker and Missy Elliott.
The album received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who complimented Mya's vocals and songwriting abilities, as well as the album's well-crafted appeal. Mya peaked at number 29 on the US Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over 1.6 million copies in the United States. The album spawned three singles; "It's All About Me" (featuring Sisqó), "Movin' On" (featuring Silkk the Shocker), and the Diane Warren/Babyface-penned ballad "My First Night with You". In the midst of the album's success, Mya earned several accolades, including an NAACP Image Award nomination and two Soul Train Music Award nominations.
In April 2023, to commemorate the album's twenty-fifth anniversary, Universal Music Group released a digital deluxe 25th anniversary edition featuring six songs previously unavailable on DSPs.
Background As a young child, Mya was an accomplished dancer who trained with Savion Glover and Gregory Hines and had performed at the Dance Theater of Harlem. At the age of 15, however, she decided to switch focus to a music career instead. She shopped demos to several labels and was signed by A. Haqq Islam to Interscope Records.
Development and recording
Islam often referred to Mya as "his Diana Ross", commenting that "she has a vocal ability that can be heard in a room full of singers; her flow is tantamount to a rapper." Islam sought to mold Mya into a recording star. He explained that his label "were going after the Madonna/Janet Jackson spot, dance and pop", while also taking inspiration from the teen R&B singers Brandy, Aaliyah and Monica. According to Islam, his idea was to put together an album "that spoke to the hurt, pains, needs and desires of today's youth—falling in love, being in love, discovering love, falling out of love, not having love, being hurt. We knew if we did that accurately, young women and people of all ages and genders would identify with it."
Recorded in New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, Mya and Interscope spent the next two years working on her debut album. Due to his rising connections within the industry, Islam was able to hire an elite team of collaborators, including Dru Hill, another act, rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, and musicians such as Darryl Pearson, Diane Warren and Babyface. Commenting on the album's nature, Mya elaborated that it "speaks mostly to men and that many of the songs offer variety of messages." She also noted that album is "lady-like" and done in a "tasteful" way, leaving some things to the imagination; rather than trying to sound vulgar or explicit. The singer co-wrote many of the songs on the album, including "If You Died I Wouldn't Cry Cause You Never Loved Me Anyway", where she puts a voice to the gut-wrenching pain some woman feel at the end of a relationship. In the song, Mýa sings of wanting a man to "die" because "he never loved her anyway." She said, "the song is about saying things in anger, but being able to learn from mistakes." Another ballad, "My First Night with You", is about a non-sexual experience with a man, written by Babyface and produced by Daryl Simmons. "Bye Bye", which features Elliott was written by Mýa and Pearson. Other songs included on the album were the dance-oriented "We're Goin Make Ya Dance and "What Cha Say", a song Mya wrote by herself.
Music and lyrics An R&B album, Mya comprises 12 tracks and encompasses smooth R&B ballads, strong hip hop raps and funky danceable tunes. A coming-of-age record characterized as "sleek" and "funky" about relationships; its subjects ranges from self centeredness, hate, happiness, self-acceptance, and love while exploring scenarios of being young, throwing parties, getting hurting for the first time, and hating someone for leaving because it hurts so much. In essence, the album's focal point is about taking control, saying goodbyes and moving on when you're done.
Mya opens with the "upbeat" opening track "What Cha Say," a self-penned song built around a deep, rubbery baseline. It is followed by the "wildy contagious, funk-fortified jeep jam" and album's second single "Movin' On," a song where Mya informs her man that she knows he is cheating and is "movin' on" to bigger and better things. Next up, the "cuddly" ballad and album's third track "Baby It's Yours." Glistened with an acoustic guitar and a slow programmed drumbeat, the ballad is in reminiscent of the earlier music of Janet Jackson. Produced by key collaborator Darryl Pearson, "Keep On Lovin' Me" serves as the album's fourth track and samples Love Unlimited Orchestra's "I Did It For Love." Written by Dru Hill frontman Sisqo, "It's All About Me" is the album's first single and "centerpiece." It is a "seductive" psychedelic R&B slow jam, rhythm-driven duet in which Mya plays a dominant, confident sex object. She informs a lover it's up to him to please her and asks the question many women won't ask, "Are you gonna get it up?" Joined by Sisqo, he croons on the bridges and ad-libs on the verses, his vocal performance is compared to the vocal work of Jodeci's K-Ci Hailey. A signature song within her discography, the duet and their chemistry has been branded "undeniable." Having one of the longest names for a song, the "curiously ambivalent" "If You Died I Wouldn't Cry Caused You Never Loved Me Anyway," serves as the album's sixth track. Produced by Nokio the N-Tity of Dru Hill, "If You Died I Wouldn't Cry Caused You Never Loved Me Anyway," is a tune about finding the strength in yourself to let go of a person who means you harm. Dru Hill provides background vocals as well.
It is followed by the "funky," "butt-shakin'," "finger snappin" ditty, "We're Gonna Make Ya Dance." In contrast to track seven, "If You Were Mine," the album's eighth track is a soft and mellow midtempo perfect for "slow dancing." Full of "spunk" and "edge" with its hard beats and scratch effects, the "excellent femme fatale tour-de-force Darryl Pearson-produced "Bye Bye," a song about being strong and moving on serves as the album's ninth track. Featuring Missy Elliott, Elliott does her trademark sounds effects. "Anytime You Want Me" and "Don't Be Afraid" serves as album's tenth and eleventh tracks. Closing the album is the "soothing" ballad "My First Night with You," a "tender" beautifully arranged Babyface/Diane Warren penned tune about a non-sexual experience with a significant other. The album's third and final single, the album's version it is built around a keyboard and drum machine produced by Daryl Simmons and compared to the vocal works of Faith Evans and Karyn White.
Release and promotion In April 1998, Interscope held a press release for Mya, with Billboard magazine promoting. At the time of the press release, University Music revealed and shared details regarding Mya's project and University Music's marketing strategy plan, announcing the album and US single release dates. Although Mya was initially slated for a May 5, 1998, release date, it was later changed to April 21. However, an international release date for the album was not set. Mya's first single "It's All About Me" featuring Sisqó was solicited to radio March 3 and released commercially March 10. The music video for "It's All About Me" was serviced to BET and The Box on February 10. It was serviced to MTV at a later date.
From the beginning, and Interscope used Mya's connection to labelmates Dru Hill as a promotional tool. To create a buzz for Mya, coupled her with Dru Hill in video and television appearances as an outlet to create a fan base for her. In addition to video and television appearances, Mya was featured on Puff Daddy's concert tour which also included Dru Hill. To continue to create an ongoing buzz for herself, she opened the boy group Boyz II Men tour from April 26 to July 26. As a marketing plan, announced and created a grass-roots campaign that hit high schools. The label distributed newsletters about Mya hitting more than 25,000 high schools nationally. University also set up a Mya 900 number which was advertised on posters and fliers. Callers could hear samples of Mya's music and hear the latest on her activities. On the press front, Mya appeared on the cover of Right On! and Teen People magazines. In late April, Mya appeared and performed "It's All About Me" on Vibe. Lastly, she was featured on Interscope's worldwide website, where she had her own page.
Singles Mya's debut album produced three singles. Lead single "It's All About Me", a duet with singer Sisqó, peaked at number six on Billboard Hot 100 and number two on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, marking Mya's first top 10 entry as a solo artist. It was later certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). A moderate international success, it peaked in the top 20 on the New Zealand Singles Chart and the top 40 on the Canadian Singles Chart. A remix version of "Movin' On", featuring additional vocals from rapper Silkk the Shocker", was released as the album's second single. It reached number 11 in New Zealand, number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number four on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album's third and final single, a cover of Deborah Cox's 1995 song "My First Night with You", peaked at number 28 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Critical reception
Mya received generally positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine called the album a "thoroughly promising debut" that compromises "a fine set of songs that manage to sound universal and strangely confessional", while describing it as "a smooth, sultry collection of well-crafted contemporary urban soul that is actually richer than the average urban record the late '90s." In his review for The Washington Post, journalist Richard Harrington wrote that Mya made "a strong first impression with her own eponymous debut."
Paul Verna of Billboard found that Mya "scored on her debut album by addressing issues of concern to women without spewing cuss words." He compared the material to R&B band Destiny's Child and complimented Mya's songwriting skills, ranking "It's All About Me", "Whatcha Say", "Bye Bye", "My First Night With You", "Movin' On", and "We're Gonna Make Ya Dance" among the album's noteworthy tracks. Ayana B. Byrd of Vibe expressed that on Mya, the " always sings with a voice that is clear, strong, and assured", adding that the album combined "round-the-way girl sass with an artist's sensibility." Jessica Simmons of The Michigan Daily described the album in one phrase:"OK, but nothing special" and noted aside from a few select songs like "Baby It's Yours" and "If You Were Mines," — "the rest are easily forgettable." She concluded her review with despite Mya having "a nice singing voice," the singer's debut offering "misses the mark." Portsmouth Daily Times associated writer Nekesa Moody opined the singer "shines on her self-titled debut despite being bogged down occasionally with some run-of-the-mill material."
Accolades