Memoirs are commonly associated with aging embattled politicians or business gurus, hardly the thing you’d think of as the title of a debut album from a 21-year-old singer.

But then, common is the last thing you think of when you mention Roxanne Tataei, better known as Rox. Having an album at 21 may make the Jamaican-Iranian Londoner a late starter next to artistes like Justin Bieber, who released his debut album when he was 15, or Britney Spears, when she was 18.

However, neither of them can say that at 10, they began travelling extensively,  participating in various productions around Britain, as a part of the National Youth Music Theatre, garnering more touring experience than most artistes of her age.

Attracting a flurry of offers from record labels after forming her first band 3 years ago, Rox signed on to Rough Trade in 2008. Since then, her star power has kept rising, with British media such as Music Week lauding her as “one of 2010’s most exciting new prospects”, and other national papers like The Guardian, Sunday Times and The Independent hyping her up.

But it’s not only the critics that have sat up and noticed her rich and soulful, yet casually confident vocal style. Her potential has been recognized by veterans in the music industry. Rox has also worked closely with English music legends such as Mark Ronson and Paul Weller. Rox has also been nominated for this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards against the likes of Delhpic, Ellie Goulding, Marina and the Diamonds and Tinie Tempah in the ‘Best UK & Ireland New Act’ category.

Before her impending Nov 5 Southeast Asia debut at TAB in Singapore, UrbanWire catches up with Rox in an e-mail interview.

1. Which is your favourite song on the album Memoirs, and why?

All the songs are very important to me. I write my songs like I would write my diary so they are all very personal. I cannot pick my favourite one really….


 2. Who did you listen to growing up, and how were you inspired by them?
Well, being half-Jamaican and half-Iranian, my roots influence my taste in music and composition. Hearing Jamaican music around my house as a child introduced me to the Reggae sound and you can hear this in Memoirs. My Iranian side is not so obvious, it’s more subtle, even though I love Persian sounds. Furthermore, being born and bred in south London obviously influenced my sound.


3. You play the guitar and the keyboards. Did you play any instruments in Memoirs? If not, are you planning to in future album releases?

I have only recently started to play these instruments again after many years and I can’t say I have mastered the craft yet but I plan to keep practicing and getting better. I write most of my songs with my Wurlitzer piano but I have not personally recorded any instruments on Memoirs apart from the bonus track! Maybe on the next album I will though, you will have to wait and listen to it.

4. What do you think of achieving more success in foreign countries than Britain?  (Memoirs peaked at 97 for UK Charts but reached 2nd and 11th for France and Italy respectively)

Yeh it’s ok I suppose… I’m very happy with all I’ve achieved this year, but I’m so ambitious. So getting to 97 in the UK charts isn’t that moving for me to be honest, especially as it’s my hometown! But with the 2nd album emerging hopefully very soon, the only way is up!


5. Already, at the tender age of 22, you’ve worked with so many famous English musicians like Paul Weller, are there any other musicians you’ll love to work with?

Well, my dream collaboration would be singing with Sade. She is playing in London next year. I can’t wait!


6. You’re nominated for ‘Best UK & Ireland New Act’ for MTV Europe Music Awards, what do you think are your chances against the other nominees?

Unfortunately the results came in and I did not win. Nevertheless it was a huge honour to be nominated.

7. Have you heard much about Singapore? Why choose Singapore for your Southeast Asia debut?

Yes I have been (here) before and it is wicked. So I thought I’d like to come back and perform this time!

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Music Video for “I Don’t Believe”, by Rox.

You can hear more of Rox’s debut album, Memoirs, at her Myspace channel.

Tickets for ROX’s concert (5th Nov, 8pm) available for $38 at http://www.tab.com.sg or at the door.

Main sponsors: X-mini and Carlsberg

Supporting sponsors: KIN, sifr, DBS and Wanderlust