meet Taahira

What city are you from/Where are you based now? 

I was raised in Queens New York and then moved to the Bronx in my junior high school.

What is your artist name? What is your real name? How did you get your artist name? 

My artist name is my real name. Taahira Lee. I went with my name given at birth because I aim to provide people with authenticity through my artistry. I didn’t want to create a new persona. 

At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? 

I was in 4th grade the very first time I sang in front of a large crowd for our graduation ceremony. I continued to sing as a hobby. I started writing songs at the age of twelve. I would always send my eldest brother Kwan my pieces once I was finished. He would tell me how good my voice was & encourage me to keep going. My brother had a friend who owned a studio and they invited me to come and record on several different occasions. However, I was tied up with school. In 2017 my brother invited me over to his friend's studio in Brooklyn. His friend's son was a producer & gave me a beat to write to a few weeks prior. That day I stepped into the booth and realized  I knew I could do it for the rest of my life. I didn’t want to leave. Everyone was astonished at how well I delivered in the booth both lyrically and vocally. 

Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your 

sound today? If so, how? 

My mom’s side of the family had a group called the Lee Sisters. They would sing in church. I always admired the harmonies. Every time the family would come together we would sing songs and it became a norm for me. My sister's mom and I lived together. My mom would always play people like; Whitney Houston, Mary J Blidge, Mariah Carey, Cee Cee Winans, and Juanita Bynum in the house. These women had great presence, messages, and impact in their songs. I was greatly inspired by all the intricate rifts, runs, and harmonies they were able to achieve. Music was and still is a part of everyday life. 

How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar 

with you? 

I grew up listening to lots of gospel, neo-soul, and r&b. I consider myself musically multidimensional. Sometimes I'll give you a love song and other times I'll give you an inspirational song to uplift your spirit. The majority of my music will be found in the genre of R&B. My delivery of songs is smooth and melodic. I give me all when it comes to creating music with substantial meaning.  I always want listeners to feel a connection after listening to a song that I'm on. 

Who are some of your main musical influences?  

My main musical Influences are; Mali Music, Beyonce, Chronixx, Erykah Badu, Bob Marley, and Russ. 

 What are some of your music career goals for the future?

 I am grateful to have reached many milestones throughout my music career thus far. I would love to open and/or collaborate with one of my favorite artists shortly. I also want to host a night for upcoming artists in my hometown. My ultimate goal is to become CEO of my record label. Enabling other artists the resources to create freely, providing them ownership of their creative works and personal/professional support on their journey. 

Tell us about the project that you are promoting. What is it about? is it a  single or EP? Also, what is the name of the last project you released?

My single "Work" is set to release on February 13th. I'm excited about this record because it's going to uplift men. We live in a culture that likes to bash one another. I wrote this song to remind men that there are still women that respect and honor men that work hard every day to be better than they were the day before. My music isn't by the status quo and I'm fine with that. This single will uplift and inspire a  community of men that need these positive affirmations. My most recent single "Forever Grateful" was the first song I released to the public. It's an introduction to who I am. The record gives you a glimpse of my attitude and my ambitions. Also, a reminder to myself and the world that gratitude is the best posture to have when you're anticipating blessings. MY EP NCND ( Never Created Nor Destroyed ) will be released in June 2023. I am excited about the journey as it only gets better with every new experience.