The Indie Sound with Jimmy Star - IamTanieka

7 min

•May 4, 2026about 1 month ago

Summary

Jimmy Starr features I Am Tanika, a Miami-based R&B singer, songwriter, actress, and entrepreneur blending urban and sultry soul with Jamaican and Guyanese cultural influences. The episode showcases her latest single 'Slow Moving' and highlights her multi-disciplinary artistic career spanning music, film, and theater.

Insights

Multi-hyphenate artists combining music with acting, producing, and entrepreneurship are gaining prominence in indie music
Cultural heritage and geographic origin (Miami, Jamaican/Guyanese influences) serve as key differentiators for emerging artists
Introspective, soulful content addressing personal growth and emotional authenticity resonates in contemporary R&B
Collaboration with established producers (Grammy-nominated) validates emerging indie artists and expands their reach
Short-form podcast platforms effectively showcase emerging talent with high-energy, personality-driven discovery formats

Trends

Rise of multi-disciplinary indie artists with skills across music, film, and entrepreneurshipCultural fusion in R&B blending Caribbean influences with contemporary urban soulIntrospective, emotionally vulnerable songwriting gaining traction in indie R&BShort-form audio content as primary discovery mechanism for independent musicArtist development through off-Broadway and independent film projects before mainstream breakthroughPersonal branding and direct-to-fan engagement via social media and artist websitesCollaboration between emerging artists and Grammy-nominated producers as validation strategy

Topics

Independent R&B Music ProductionArtist Personal Branding and Social Media StrategyMulti-disciplinary Creative CareersCaribbean Cultural Influences in Contemporary MusicSongwriting and Emotional AuthenticityMusic Discovery PlatformsFilm and Music Cross-Disciplinary WorkArtist Development and MentorshipEP and Single Release StrategyDirect-to-Fan Artist Engagement

Companies

Entertainment Veneran

Production company or brand associated with host Jimmy Starr and The Indie Sound podcast

People

I Am Tanika

Featured artist on the episode; Miami-based R&B artist with upcoming EP

Jimmy Starr

Host of The Indie Sound podcast; native Floridian who introduces and promotes featured artists

Billy Smiley

Grammy-nominated producer who collaborated with I Am Tanika on her music

Quotes

"Slow moving is the way that I do. There's no denying I'm done paying my dues. My heart is steady. I'm getting ready for the truth."

I Am Tanika•Song performance

"She's super talented, she's beautiful, and she's gonna make a big splash in the world of indie music. She already is making one, but it's gonna get a lot bigger."

Jimmy Starr•Outro

"Her work blends urban and sultry soul. Her artistic journey includes showcases off-Broadway productions, award-winning feature films, and church performances."

Jimmy Starr•Artist introduction

Full Transcript

Hey everybody, welcome to the Indie Sound with Jimmy Starr, your backstage pass to the global independent music scene. Each short form episodes spotlights fresh fearless artists from around the world, spanning every genre from alt-pop to hip-hop to cinematic rock. Posted by Entertainment Veneran Jimmy Starr, that's me! The show drops quick high energy segments packed with new releases, artist stories, and the kind of unfiltered conversation you won't get anywhere else. Think of it as your daily dose of discovery, raw talent, zero filter. So today you guys are going to do a fabulous R&B singer. Her name is I Am Tanika and you can follow her on social media, I Am Tanika and it's T-A-N-I-E-K-A and it's IAmTanika.com. One thing that for me is really cool from her is that she actually hails from Miami and I was born in Miami and I lived in South Florida until I was 50. So I'm a native Floridian and she's fantastic. She's a singer, she's a songwriter, she's an actress, she's a film producer, she's an entrepreneur and she's got a great name I Am Tanika and she's got a bunch of debut singles, suits, Wonder Woman and her latest release Slow Moving. Like I said she hails from Miami and she's influenced by Jamaican and Guyanese culture. Her work blends urban and sultry soul. Her artistic journey includes showcases off-Broadway productions, award-winning feature films, and church performances and she's also had the opportunity to collaborate with Grammy nominated producer Billy Smiley. I think you guys are going to like her a lot. Her projects have received critical acclaim and Wonder Woman is a super empowering piece. Suits offers a smooth modern vibe and slow movement which we're going to play for you guys in a minute. It adds a soulful introspective layer to her repertoire. She has an upcoming EP that they're working on and she is really, really one to watch. That's why we're featuring her on the Indie Sound with Jimmy Stark. So without further ado, check out Slow Moving by I Am Tanika. Alright settle down, settle down. Ladies and gentlemen my name is Mr. Light so nice and guess what? You better say it right. I want to change things up a little bit. Can I slow things down a little bit? I want to welcome to the stage and reintroduce to all the beautiful, independent and majestic Miss I Am Tanika. Make some room y'all, make some room. And remember, you can look but you cannot touch. Slow moving is the way that I do. There's no denying I'm done paying my dues. My heart is steady. I'm getting ready for the truth. Slow dancing is the way that I feel. No getting round it, let's just make this thing real. My heart is yearning. There's no returning from the truth. Cause I've lied for a long time. This evening fooling myself. I gave in, chewed the mindset. And put me up high on the shelf. Leaving home with a heartache. Thinking I'd make my escape. I can imagine folks didn't see me crying for help. Slow moving is the way that I do. There's no denying I'm done paying my dues. My heart is steady. I'm getting ready for the truth. I've been breaking my own rules. Fighting and trying to do right. Now these days are old news. Some beauty was brewing inside. Fought on through the darkness. By living inside of the light. No compromising. I'm still arising into the new. Slow moving is the way that I do. There's no denying I'm done paying my dues. My heart is steady. I'm getting ready for the truth. It's been plain to see. But staring at me. Showing me where to go. Down in my soul. If I were you I would say yeah. Speak to me. Speak to me. Speak to me. Speak to me.哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎哎 So again, you guys, that's I am to Nika. and you can find her at imtunika.com. Her Instagram is at imtunika and Tunika is spelled T-A-N-I-E-K-A. I think you guys are gonna love her. She's super talented, she's beautiful, and she's gonna make a big splash in the world of indie music. She already is making one, but it's gonna get a lot bigger. So thanks for tuning in to the Indie Sandwich, you me Starry, and we'll see you next time. Bye-bye, everybody.