LaTina Webb is no newcomer to the music business. In fact, she’s quite the opposite, having performed in front of thousands at sold-out shows around the world. LaTina first hit the music scene in the 90s when she went on tour, lending her vocals as a backup singer for the legendary El DeBarge. Since then, her sweet and sultry vocals have taken her from performing locally, to touring internationally. LaTina’s versatility and standout ability to harmonize has allowed her to blend seamlessly while singing backup for musical icons Maxwell, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, and Barry White, among others. But she’s more than just a background vocalist; she’s a star on the rise and she’s ready to shine! LaTina is coming out of the background and stepping into the limelight with her first solo project, “Toes In The Sand” (T.I.T.S.), due out later this year. F.A.M.E. recently caught up LaTina to talk about how she went from singing background, to prepping for the release of her album.
When did you realize music was something you wanted to pursue? I think I realized it when I was in high school. I started modeling for a little while. But it wasn’t really enough for me. I always sang but I never really put it into action. Then I started writing my thoughts through poetry, and then I started writing actual songs. Then I started playing the guitar. I just love to play and sing… I feel really comfortable with the guitar next to me.
Did you start off signing background? I did start with singing background. El DeBarge was the first tour that I worked on, and I wasn’t getting paid very much. I was very young. I was going in as almost like an intern type of deal. I was just like, ‘I don’t care how much I make, I just want to go on tour, and I just want to do this!’ He called me up and he was like, ‘I want you to sing with me.’ It was early or mid 90s. We toured all around the States. And then we went overseas and we traveled to Japan, Indonesia, and the Islands. That was my first tour and my first taste of what it was like to be on the road, and what it was like to sing every night and the demands of traveling. It was grueling! A couple times I called my mom and I was like, ‘Mom, I want to come home!’ I’d be crying!
What was the audition process like? A long time ago, one of his cousins married one of my cousins so we were kind of related through family. So my mom and this woman named Pearl Jones, who lived in Dallas, TX and worked at a radio station, put on these summer shows and El DeBarge was one of the artists. My mom was there with Pearl backstage and she ran into El and she was like, ‘Oh my God, we have family that know each other!’ She mentioned the names and they hugged. And then she was like, ‘I have a daughter and she sings.’ He said, ‘Really? That’s great. Come to my hotel after the show and I’ll meet your daughter.’ And that’s how it all started. I sang for him in the lobby of his hotel. I gave him my number and then I didn’t hear from him for like 4 or 5 months later. And he called me up out of the blue and was like, ‘Can you come to Houston? Do you want to go on tour?’ I was like, ‘Yes!’ And that’s how it all started…a funny story in itself.
What were you doing before you got the call to tour with El DeBarge? I was modeling at the time. I was also an aspiring singer. Me and my girlfriend from high school started a group together and then we started performing around town. We were a local act. We were playing at all these jazz scenes where we’d sing standards. We were called Suede. Since we knew Pearl Jones who worked for the radio station, she would have us open up for the acts that came in [Dallas] for the summer. We were the local act that performed before the other acts. I remember Aaliyah coming through there, El DeBarge and Sir Mix-A-Lot! We opened up for him! We rapped a little! It was fun and it was a good experience.
What did you do after your first tour? The next tour I did was with Brandy. And then I started working with these guys at Studio 56..it was Keith Crouch, Derek Edmondson, Kenneth Crouch…all these guys. We were up-coming, and we were doing our thing. And it was just a really beautiful experience because we were all around each other and we were growing together. It was good to be around that positive energy. I kept touring, and then I ended up working with Barry White. And then I got a call from Maxwell. I auditioned for Maxwell and got the gig and it was really a great experience. What a great artist to work with! Maxwell’s really amazing.
When did you decide to pursue a solo career? I wanted to pursue my solo career when I moved here (Los Angeles). I was working at Studio 56, and I started writing songs and people were interested in my writing. And then I started to be interested in my own writing too. When I picked up the guitar is when I really fell in love with writing my own songs. That’s when I started to develop my own style; my own voice. Trying to find your own sound through other people is hard. And sometimes you don’t find it the first time around. Luckily for me, I found it through my guitar. On this album, Keith Crouch, a producer/ friend of mine, introduced me to Scott Elgin who’s my producer now.
Describe your musical style. I would describe my sound as a pop/dance/international feel. It’s a variety of genres. It has a 80s feel. I feel it has the honesty of Joni Mitchell, the heart of Kate Bush, and the soul of Billie Holiday. I listen back to my music and I hear hints of their music in there.
What inspires you to write? I think it comes subconsciously. Where I live, there’s a ton of trees around, and I love nature so much. I know nature is very inspirational to me. I tend to write when I’m happy and when I’m feeling really good. The emotion comes out and that helps me write the songs. I’ve gone through a lot of things, it’s been a hard road, and I’ve learned a lot. All those things come out in my music – my fears and the things I aspire to be. Music heals you. Life hurts and music heals. It’s been my therapy.
Do you prefer to write, record or tour? I love all three aspects for their own reasons. I love to perform on stage. I love interacting with the audience and the energy they give you; it’s beautiful! And then when you’re in the studio, I guess I just love repetition and the tedious nature of going into the studio. Sometimes, over the years, I don’t like the hours so much, but when you’re in the moment and your writing and being creative, there is no hour. The hours just melt into each other. You find joy in that. I love coming up with new ideas.
Are you currently looking for a major record deal? I’m looking for investors. But I’m really looking for distribution. My album is already done. So I’m just looking for distributors whether it’s through a major or indie label.
What’s the vibe of the album? Toes In The Sand…it’s exactly like the title. It feels like vacation…you want go out and have fun in the sun. It’s sexy, it’s flirtatious, and it’s just a good listen. It has something to say to women…how you can feel confident about yourself and still feel sexy and not have to compromise your dignity.
What have you been doing in preparation for the release of your album? I’ve been playing around locally in LA and I’ve been taking photos and rehearsing. I’m getting ready to do choreography with a couple people…just doing the business side of it and preparing my package. I’m ready! It is a little nerve-racking because you’re putting yourself out there. But I’m very excited to share my music; I think it’s strong, and I think it’s beautiful. I think that people will be able to relate to it. I’ve been at it for a long time. This is my first album so this is a big deal! I’m excited, but there are also jitters that come with the excitement. You want people to love you!
What are some challenges you’ve face as a woman in this business? My biggest challenge, at one point in my career, was myself. I didn’t give myself enough credit. I didn’t think deserved enough. I didn’t think I could do it. And then started to realize, I can do this! I do deserve this! People do need to hear this music, because it’s going to heal people, and it’s going to change their lives. Whatever it’s going to make them feel, it needs to be heard.
Another thing that’s challenging in this business is, when I was coming up, a lot of women did a lot of different things to get to where they are. I don’t necessarily knock it, but I don’t necessarily think it’s for me. All these people have certain mindsets, and you’re young and excited, and they’re just looking at you like, ‘What are you going to do for me?’ But some things are just not for me. I’m not going to go that route and that’s been challenging for me. I feel like some women in this business have made it a little bit harder to be respected.
What do you want fans to know? To be a woman in this business, it takes a strong nature. You have to be a little aggressive. Women can accomplish anything, but you just have to persevere.
