jnj: You did a very good album (Destiny) for Island Records, that was released in 1998. What happened in the meantime and why had Island/Universal dropped you respectively why didn't Universal offered you a new contract after they have closed Island?
Myron: Island Records came under some difficulty in 1998 and folded, shortly after. The entire staff was pretty much gone. Def Jam picked up Dru Hill and Kelly Price and everyone else was released.


jnj: What's the objective behind Moja Music you have founded with Joshua Honigstock in 1998?
Myron: The main concept behind Moja Music is the preservation of real music and the artists that creates it. Josh and I both have a great love and respect for the sound and the feeling in live music. Creating our own label became an avenue for us to make the music we love and own it, as well.


jnj: Tell me how your song Free made it on the Hidden Hits compilation.
Myron: My management team sent a copy of the CD to Hidden Beach, because I liked the music that they put out. They happened to be working on this project and included me on it.


jnj:How long did it take you to record your new album "Free" and which songs are closest to your heart?
Myron: The album took about two years to conceptualize. I knew that I wanted real instruments, but I didn't play them at the time. I would make some very realistic drum patterns (on my Akai MPC3000) and program the mess out of a "keyboard bass", but Josh and I would listen and say, "It's just not REAL ." So i spent two years learning to play the bass and the guitar. I have a four string G&L bass, named Betty and a Fender stratocaster that I named Stella. As far as favorites go... the songs all touch me the same. A lot of joy and tears went into this music.


jnj: All the major labels keep lamenting about illegal downloads on P2P networks like Kazaa but on the other hand they don't offer a reasonable alternative and keep missing the point of developing and nurturing new talents. What do you think about the role of major labels in the future?
Myron: It is a shame that as technology increases, opportunity diminishes. All of a sudden there is little need for musicians. Then, there's not much need for a venue, because of video shows and now there's not much need for record labels, because kids can not only make a CD in the basement of the mom's but they can distribute it by themselves over the net. I don't know what to say about major labels, except that they made enough money off artists, in the past. Let some independents get some money, now. By the way "bootlegging sucks!"


jnj: In recent times I have the impression that the better music is being released on small independent labels or by the artists themselves via the internet. What do you thing of the state of soul/R&B music these days?
Myron: On one hand, I love the fact that soul music is "underground." It reminds me of the 70's, where the clubs were full of soul singers, talking about the state of the world they lived in. On the other hand, I do miss the concept of becoming filthy rich really quick, as an soul singer! I think that music will live on no matter what happens. The tide will change, again and what is now more obscure will come into the mainstream and "around we go..." I like to see artist like Erika Badu, Roots, Jill Scott and Floetry in the small clubs, playing more for the people than for the money. To me, that's when it's real and you can feel it: pure soul.


jnj: Tell me something about your musical influences.
Myron: I grew up listening to gospel music: Commissioned, The Clark Sisters and The Winans. My dad loved jazz so I got a dose of Miles and Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Max Roach and Dizzy. When I was about 10 my aunt stayed with us for awhile and she had this dusty old record collection. In it I remember liking the covers to Stanley Turrintine (I don't remember the title), Brother Jack McDuff, then there was Extensions Of A Man (Donny Hathaway) and Fullfillingness's First Finale. They were some what warped and my first experience with "They won't go when I go" was not a great one. I was drawn to the music, but warped record made Stevie sound like ghost. I don't like ghost! It wasn't until I was 14 that I realized what I was listening to were some of the greatest writers of our time. The first tape the I bought on my own was In a Square Circle. As I got older, I got hip to Curtis Mayfield and I was inspired by the simplicity and sincerity in his writing, so I studied his music for a period of time. I like Smokey Robinson, as well. HIs voice is tight and he wrote some beautiful love songs. Bob Marley is another great influence on my music.


jnj: Are there any artists these days that really impress you or with whom you would like to work in the future?
Myron: I have always been a hug fan of Raphael Saadiq. I would love to work with him. I wouldn't mind writing with Pharrel, but then again, who wouldn't these days. (His beats are selling big.) I have been impressed with Alicia Keys and India Arie.