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Though my real name is
Charlene Keys, I’ve been nicknamed Tweet ever since I can remember.
Everyone in my family wants credit for coming up with that, but no one
knows where it came from. What I do know is that it stuck, and in
many ways, it fits perfectly.
Born in Rochester, N.Y. to a musical family with deep Southern roots, I
grew up singing in a church choir, and later, in a gospel group. My
parents and four siblings mastered, among other instruments, the piano,
bass guitar, and drums. I think coming from a musical family centered
me. I inherited a real passion for music, and a respect for those who
dedicate their lives to it as a career. Although I also learned how to
play guitar, it was my voice – an alto to be exact – that became my
favorite instrument.
Determined to follow in the footsteps of my idols, Aretha Franklin and
Tina Turner, I enrolled in a performing arts school. My incessant hard
work and dedication seemed to pay off in 1994, when a meeting with
DeVante (of Jodeci fame) resulted in a production deal with a group
called Sugah. The group eventually disintegrated. During those difficult
times, I confided in Missy Elliott, who shared my musical aspirations as
well as my frustrations. We lived in the same building, so we would hide
out and go to the mall and just talk. She became my big sister.
Ultimately, both Missy and I parted ways with DeVante. Disillusioned and
broke, I moved to my parents’ home in Panama City, Florida. I was so
depressed that I began to contemplate suicide. But the day before my
intended (and final) surrender, I received the phone call that changed
my life, forever. It was Missy, asking me to sing background vocals on
her "MISS E… SO ADDICTIVE" album. We hadn’t spoken in a
long time, but I knew I could tell her the truth about how I was
feeling, because we both went through the same ordeal. I call her my
guardian angel now, because she truly rescued me. She says I don’t owe
her anything, but it is because she believed in me that I came to
believe in Tweet, the artist.
I officially fluttered onto the R&B scene in 2002, on the wings of
"SOUTHERN HUMMINGBIRD," mostly a work of soul-stirring
balladry, with two major exceptions – "Oops (Oh My)" and
"Call Me," both dancefloor-destined singles produced by
Timbaland. The album was widely embraced
and went
platinum. People defined my sound as "sexy" and
"seductive." Some, including Missy and choreographer Fatima,
said I reminded them of Aaliyah, which was incredibly flattering. Yet my
intention was simply to make music that came from within. Only by being
candid with listeners could I truly earn a place in their hearts. So on
tender, acoustic ballads like "Smoking Cigarettes" and
"Motel" (on which I played guitar), I wasn’t just singing
– I was speaking of my most personal experiences with Love. The bitter
and the sweet; the pleasure and the pain; the romance and realism of
Love – I didn’t hold anything back. Missy once told me that "HUMMINGBIRD"’s
greatest triumph was being able to "hit that point of no return
between love and hurt."
Fast forward to 2005, and it’s finally time to unveil "IT'S ME
AGAIN," an exciting new chapter in my life. I refer to it as
"Southern Hummingbird, times two." It’s still me, but it’s
a different revelation of me. I’ve grown as an artist as well as a
woman. I’ve been there, done that, and it’s a great feeling.
"IT’S ME AGAIN" once again features executive production
from Missy, but it doesn't sound as dark as its predecessor. This album
is sunnier; it's all about being cool with yourself and comfortable in
your own skin.
As the Missy-assisted first single, "Turn Da Lights Off" –
playfully scratched and produced by Kwame – proves, the album has an
indispensable amount of hip-hop – but the sound is unique in that it
recalls those old, but classic, vinyl records. Even my fashion sense has
evolved to try to evoke a classy, timeless style. Rather than being
fine, I want to be beautiful now. I feel like a little girl going into
my mother’s closet and playing dress up.
Some things, like my penchant for Marlboro Ultra Lights, in-your-face
lyrics, and interwoven harmonies – I've always done my own background
vocals – have remained intact. "I’m Done," which I wrote
after a break-up, is a song dedicated to L-O-V-E itself, while "My
Man" bluntly tells an ex-chick who's really relevant in a lover's
life now. One of my favorite songs is "Cab Ride," which
features music from the classic TV series "Taxi." Everybody
used to love the show, so we took the music from that and made it into a
beautiful ballad.
As for surprises, perhaps the biggest one is
"The Two Of Us," a duet with my daughter, Tashawna. The song
honors our relationship because it’s always been just the two of us,
ever since she was born. When people hear the song, they say she sounds
exactly like me. It’s my newfound understanding of love on "IT'S
ME AGAIN" – not just in the traditional sense, but also the kind
of unconditional love between mother and daughter – that makes this
album that much more compelling.
It’s a fact: I love being in love. But because love has hurt me, I
have learned how to give and receive the right love. When the love is
right, there’s no going wrong. All those that were hurt before, I want
to bring y’all into this next level – that’s healing. And believe
me, there’s no better place to be.
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