Phyllisia

Some children want to become firemen, doctors, nurses and even royalty when they grow up, but even at three-years-old, Phyllisia Ross knew she wanted to be a performer. Now a full-time Biology major at the University of Miami on the verge of graduation, the young musician is ensuring her academic excellence is on par with the entertainment career she has been building.

In recent years, Phyllisia has worked with industry powerhouses like Ne-Yo, Flo Rida, Bigg D, Scott Storch and Steve Morales. She’s also had some amazing collaborations with her SoBe Entertainment labelmates, and garnered ‘Song of the Year’ and ‘Collabo of the Year’ honors at the 2010 EME Awards in Jamaica with the Jah Cure duet “Call On Me.”

Now Phyllisia is preparing for the official radio release of her club-friendly singles “Money Clap” and “I’m Tired” featuring Flo Rida, with videos ready to go. Her upcoming album is slated for Summer release on SoBe Entertainment in association with Fontana/Universal Music Group Distribution.

An accomplished pianist, songwriter and singer, Phyllisia’s gifts were recognized early-on by her father. Although he dreamed of her becoming a medical doctor, he supported the toddler’s natural talents. She began with classical piano at age three, and was singing by five-years-old. Sadly, her father passed away when she was only 10, however Phyllisia was determined to make him proud.

After studying vocal performance in middle school, Phyllisia went on to attend Dreyfoos High School for Performing Arts in Palm Beach. “The type of singing I did in high school was operatic, called Bel Canto style,” she explains. “Over the years there are many genres of music that I’ve been singing. The classical teachers I had, the piano and all of those musical genres coming together shaped my sound to what it is today. It made me more disciplined as a musician, because I always know that I can be so much better than I am.”

Because of her wide array of musical skills, Phyllisia is wary of her talent being pigeonholed. “My life is so versatile that different emotions will come out. I might write a Hip-Hop song where I’m very intense, or the next day I could be feeling in a slow R&B mood. At this stage, I would definitely say I’m urban pop. I’m young, in school, I like to party and have a good time too. I’m going to make music based on my timeline and where I am in life. You’ll hear songs about heartbreak and love on my album too. I hope to cross over into adult contemporary when I do reach a Sade or classic Whitney Houston type of sound.”

Recognition at Jamaica’s 2010 EME Awards for her work Jah Cure’s 2009 single “Call on Me” has inspired Phyllisia even more. She is currently featured on Jah Cure’s latest single “Unconditional Love,” and embraces the appreciation from her Caribbean fans.

“Just to know that my name, my voice and message mean something to people and that it helps and touches somebody is a major step forward. Especially being awarded those two, Song of the Year and Collaboration of the Year – that song was on people’s minds for a while. It’s a motivator to continue on having accomplished something.”

SoBe Entertainment has been a major force in Phyllisia’s life, and she expresses the utmost respect for her professional family.

“Cecile Barker, CEO and Executive Producer, is behind me 100% in school as well as being an artist. You would think a record company wouldn’t want me to have any distractions from making music, but I think because he was an astronomical physicist and a brilliant man, he wants me to understand the life lessons that I’m learning. We’re like a tight knit family; I’m not going to let my family down. Life is about persistence and dedication, and SoBe Entertainment is more than music, it’s about life. “

Phyllisia’s yet-untitled debut album is near completion. “I have a bunch of diverse songs, even in other languages on my album,” she explains. “I have a song where I’m singing in Creole, dedicated to Haiti, one in Spanish, along with dance songs and R&B ballads. It just projects what I’ve gone through. I want to help people believe in themselves.

“You can do anything you want to do, and you can live your dream, but you have to work for it. I stuck to what I said I was going to do, and my music is just a reward. I want to help the world, whether I’m a doctor, or a singer who wrote a song that helped somebody else. That’s what other musicians have done for me, so that’s what I want to do for others.”

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