The Start Of It All: I started out as a singer/songwriter, initially my drive came from me wanting to have a way for me and my children to survive. At that time we relied on their father a lot to take care of things, he was the plan. And so I didn’t really have a plan of my own. So I had to figure something out, I started out as a wardrobe designer assisting for my best friend. I realized that’s not something I want to do for me, and I wanted to find something making money that I loved for myself. I have always loved music, and while I was with my children’s father I would always sing over the tracks he would get from his producer. In my own way I had been holding my skills, and I met up with a producer by the name of Paul Poli. We got together, made a demo, shopped it around, and about six months later we gotta deal.

S.L.: What happened on the set where you broke your leg and how did it change your life?

T.M.: I broke my femur bone when I was still working as a wardrobe stylist. It was more of a sign to me, a kick in the butt to move in the direction of the calling of my life. Like I said I was really trying to find a way for me to take care of myself and my kids. I’m not a nine to five person, and I really wanted something that could meet my needs and make good money at the same time. That’s the reason why I held on to that job, is for that reason. I think me breaking my leg made me have to find my own direction. It was a blessing in disguise.

S.L.: What is it that you want to accomplish with your music?

T.M.: The same thing I wanted to do from the beginning, I remember I did an issue for VIBE it was the “Next” at that time. They asked me the same question, I just want to make good music and good money. They took out the good money part, and people don’t understand to make good music you have to make good money to survive. Success to me is to make enough money to pay my bills and live comfortably, not to be filthy rich and just to make the music that I want to make. Music that feels good to my soul, and however that connects to the people that’s great. I can’t sit back and try to think about becoming a superstar, because that’s not my intentions. I can’t sit back and think about trying to have everyone in the world listen to my music, because that’s not my intentions. My intentions is just to make good music, and maybe those are mediocre goals. But for me I want to be content and truly happy in life, and I know that all the money in the world won’t make me happy.

S.L.: Do you still write for other people?

T.M.: I only write for others when it’s a relationship where I’m called in to do it, and it’s a connection where I really believe I can accomplish something. For example Macy Gray called me to work with her, I wrote on her recent album. Different artist that I have had a chance to work with and we have an understanding, but as far as  soliciting to artist I don’t do that anymore.

S.L.: As an artist, what are your biggest fears?

T.M.: To lose my job! As an artist my biggest fear is to not be fresh, to not be good anymore(laugh). I would never want to win at something that was so mediocre that I thought I could continue to win being mediocre. It’s great that you asked that question after you asked “Do I still write for others”, because one of my biggest fears came when I started chasing money. I became a bigger writer than I was an artist. I thought that was the money maker so let me go make some money. I was put in situations where I wrote for artist and I didn’t feel the songs were all that great. I was just trying to give these A&R’s what they were asking for. And I had to pull myself from that situation.

S.L.: You started out making music as a way to survive for your kids. Now that you are more successful, how do you balance out your career and your kids? I know it has to be hard.

T.M.: Well, it is but at the same time it’s not. Leaving is what’s hard, but when I am here I am focused on being here. And that’s great because  they only have one parent, so I’m really here for them. Especially now that I have moved to Miami, we used to live in Los Angeles.  There I had more family around and more business to be done in the same city. So it’s better now that we are here because I’m fully focused on them, but now they are at the age where they want to be with their friends.

S.L.: How is it to be a women in the industry, are there any obstacles you had to overcome?

T.M.: The same obstacles that you have to face in the industry are the same you have to face with being a women in the world, dealing with men! You just have to not be a naive women when dealing with men in the industry. Anything that is male driving, a man wants a women to be more passive. And I’m not always that way, so sometime I have to try to dumb it down. Not in a way of being a stupid women,or coming off as weak, but to be a little bit more passive than usual. It becomes intimidating to men that you work with when you come off too strong, I can’t really explain.

S.L.: I totally understand what you are saying.

T.M.: Yes, at times being to strong and very aggressive can be intimidating at times for them. You just have to play the game to get where you want to go. That’s the only thing with being a women, if your too gullible it’s not good and if your too strong it’s not good either. You just have to find a balance.

S.L.: Is there anything in your career that you regret, something that you would change if you could?

T.M.: Not one thing, I’m so glad of how I started and where I ‘m at right now. I would probably spend some money differently(laughs). But actually not really because I learned lessons from it. There is nothing that can teach you better than going through a situation yourself. I love my career and I didn’t find it how most people do, it’s not something I wanted my whole life. It’s just something God called me to do and where I am right now, how confident and comfortable I am. I think it’s the best place I can be.

S.L.: How is the Hennessy Tour?

T.M.: It’s wonderful, we have just been promoting the brand. I’m not just promoting their brand but my brand as well, the Teedra Moses brand. There are people who don’t know who Teedra Moses is. So they listen to my music and come back , and there is another person turned on. It feels great to represent Lady Hennessy, which to me is the elegance of the brand. When you think of Hennessy, you think it’s a nice cognac and it’s more of a male drivin’ thing. It’s elegance to what they are trying to do with the campaign, it’s elegant and sophisticated. Which is the same thing I’m trying to do with my music.  It’s a great thing and there were some experiences out there, I’m just grateful for the opportunity.

S.L.: What city did you love performing in?

T.M.: I would have to say number one is D.C., and number two is Atlanta.

S.L.: Aww man………..It wasn’t us.

T.M.: I would have to say if there was a number three, the Bay Area would be it. You know what I have to say about the Bay Area and music. You guys choose what you want, you lock into it, and you roll with it. You give so much love to independent music and I love it.

S.L.: What makes you “Out Of The Box”?

T.M.: I think I’ve gotten further and further out of the box, because of what it has become. I think with soul music it has become contrived, and that’s the last thing I am is contrived. I move purely off of what comes from my soul, heart and mind.

S.L.: What is your “IPod Favorite of The Week”?

T.M.: Sade, “Babyfather”.

S.L.: And your favorite song from your album?

T.M.: When it comes to my music, it changes all the time. Right now I would say “Taste So Sweet”, because I’m shooting a video for it right now. I listen to it over and over, because me and the director Omari are trying to get a concept locked in right now. And sometimes after I finish a project I don’t listen to it anymore, because I heard it so much when I was working on it that I don’t need to listen to it when it’s done.

S.L.: What’s going on for Teedra Moses in 2010?

T.M.: In 2010 my goal is to release “The Young Lioness” album, and I want it to be something I’m very proud of. So I decided to scratch some songs and work on a few more. I want the songs to be really good to me, I can’t please the world and that was never my intentions. I want to please myself and impress me, that’s the goal and hopefully it will trickle down to other people.

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