WHO IS TESSANNE CHIN?
Tessanne Chin, Is a Normal girl with an extraordinary Job, hahahhah I Believe in God and In prayer , I adore and cannot live without my friends and family I love my country (Jamaica) and My people hahahah Really all in all just a normal Girl.

WHO OR WHAT WAS THE iNSPiRATiON BEHiND THE SONG HiDEAWAY?
Hideaway is one of those songs that didn’t’ take me long to write. I think it wrote itself hahahah. But the inspiration behind it was simply Loving someone so much that you’d be willing to let them in to your most inner self, Your secrets, your fears, your dreams. It’s also about taking a chance too or being brave enough to because we take a chance everytime we love right?

WERE YOU EXPECTING HiDEAWAY TO BE SUCH A MEGA-HIT?
LOL I thought it was gonna do good but nothing!!!!! I mean NOTHING could’ve prepared me for what was to and has come. I still am totally in shock hahahhahhah But very very Blessed and very grateful to all the people out there , the DJ’s, the fans, the TV stations for supporting it so much, without them I couldn’t do this , especially my amazing fans!!! LOVE YAH!!!

HOW ARE YOU DEALiNG WiTH THE SUDDEN SUCCESS OF THE SONG?
I dunno... I’m still learning LOL I think I’m taking everything a step at a time and trying to soak in everything that is happening around me and not just have it wisk on by. I’m really not taking it for granted though I’m growing with everything and growth is always a good thing. Plus I have the best person to learn and take advice from..My Big sister Tami: I tell yah you don’t get better advice than that.

DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE UPSTAGING YOUR SiSTER TAMI?
OF COURSE NOT!!! We are only compared because we are sisters but the reality of the matter is that we are in totally different leagues and genres, I can’t do what she does nor can she with me. We are very aware that the world and the industry will always put us against each other but we are sisters first and we know and are strong in that.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS FROM NOW?
Hhhhhmmmm! I don’t like to put a limit on myself because yah never know. But ideally I would like to be able to continue to represent my country and my music on an International level. To have maybe about three albums out by then, be touring and also to open up some charities and some other businesses too.

DO YOU WRITE YOUR OWN SONGS?
Yes I do... I’m as much a writer as I am a singer. It’s another passion of mine and a great outlet.

WHO ARE YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEMS?
Definitely God, My Family and my friends are the best. They are my foundation, without them this girl can’t stand... she could stand but she wouldn’t be as strong.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE DiFFiCULTiES YOU FACED GETTiNG YOUR ROCK/REGGAE STYLE OF MUSiC iNTO JAMAICA’S MAINSTREAM DANCEHALL ENviRONMENT?
Well, that was the only obstacle really, the fact that my music is different and I am coming out with a different sound was about the only obstacle but I’m glad now that I did stick with it because now it’s paying off.

WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING THAT YOU EVER HAD TO DEAL WiTH iN THE MUSiC iNDUSTRY?
That would once again be The “Different Factor” and the business itself is not the most pleasant thing to do deal with. But I have been very blessed and I can’t complain.

WiTH A FEW EXCEPTIONS, JAMAICA’S MUSiC INDUSTRY IS MALE DOMiNATED, HOW HAS THIS AFFECTED YOU?
Not at all really, The females are really bringing it hard out here now, There’s Tami Chynn, Alaine, Jovi Rockwell, Etana, Tanya Stephens, Macka Diamond, D’Angel, Lady Saw, Diana King and many more, so they have all paved the way for me and others to come. I think that we are just reaping the benefits of the seeds sown and I thank them whole heartedly.

WHAT IS THE ONE SPECIAL OCCASION THAT YOU LOOKED FORWARD TO THE MOST?
Oh my goodness I can’t choose one, with my family there are too many hahahah. As long as the family is there friends, music and let us not forget FOOD!!! It is an occasion hahahah.

DESCRIBE A MEMORABLE MOMENT WiTH TAMI?
Once again I can’t choose ONE!!!! How do you choose one from a whole lifetime? Ok lemmi think Hhhhhmmmm... We are always laughing, Tami is one of the only people who can make me roll on the floor with laughter, but on this particular occasion I think I was about 6 or 7 and she was 7 or 8 (we’re a year apart) and mum and dad had sent us on this trip with some family friends (she knows the one;) and needless to say we weren’t enjoying it all that much (especially because I wasn’t allowed to have ice cream:) and I got home sick one night and started crying and she just came in my bed and hugged me, kissed me , told me everything was gonna be ok and from then on she has been taking care of me and kissing me better :) Is that good enough?

AS A CHILD WHAT WAS THE WORST PUNISHMENT YOU RECEIVED?
Hahahhahhah...The worst punishment was the anticipation of punishment. You Know when Daddy or Mummy look at you in Public and say (I’m gonna deal with you later) that was pretty bad but Tami and I are the youngest of 5 so we got away with murder. But nothing out of the ordinary though...just a slap here and there.

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FiRST LOVE?
Oh my goodness.... Next question!!! Lol Umm yes who doesn’t?

WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT YOU WANTED TO BE A SINGER?
Mum and Dad were musicians, My mum is a beautiful singer, and they had a band and of course rehearsals and as children we weren’t allowed to mess with the equipment but one night I got brave and I stole the Mic and buss a tune. I think I was about 5 and yeah I and everyone else pretty much knew from then.

WHEN, WHERE AND WHO DiSCOVERED YOUR TALENT?
My mum did I guess. She picked up on our abilities and decided to put us in The Cathy Levey’s Little People and Teen Players Club, which is basically a performing arts school here in Jamaica, and from then on Tami and I made the choice after school to do this full time, but as far as being discovered?? Hhhhhmmmm I guess for me when I tied for this competition out here called “Divas Night” and the winners me and another lady got to open for Patti Labelle and Gladys Knight and the I Threes, so I was about 17 then but it was just a start, I then joined a Rock band ‘Mile High” and I got the opportunity to sing and perform my own songs. It was great and then I was back up singer for Sir Jimmy Cliff for about 3 years which was the best Job cause we toured the world and I got a taste of what could be mine someday under the Greatest Boss Sir Cliff:) and then I became a solo artist and Hideaway happened and here I am !!!That’s pretty much my story in not so much of a nutshell.

IN WHiCH COUNTRY DO YOU DESiRE TO PERFORM THE MOST?
Hahahhahhah... Honestly just the opportunity to perform is enough but If I had to name one???????? Maybe Japan.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WiTH ALL THE ATTENTiON FROM THE OPPOSiTE SEX?
I dunno where is it???? Hahahah Just kidding! That is still a mystery to me and I’m still trying to adjust to it but I guess I just try to be respectful but also I demand respect too. If yah coming to me yuh better come damn good hahahah But I do appreciate their compliments and their support and I try to be a lady about it ,Notice I said try... cause deep down inside I am clumsy and quite the opposite. I drink my beer from the bottle, I wrestle people hahahhah I want to live on a farm and milk cows and I’m a bit crazy at times and I’m sure a few members of the opposite sex are reading this now thinking “what the Huh?!!!” but hey that’s me and you can Milk a cow and still Look Hot doing it and be a perfect lady. Hahahah

I MUST ASK... WHO WAS YOUR HANDSOME LOvE INTEREST IN THE “HiDEAWAY” VIDEO?
Hahahhahhah Yuh mean Horace? He is actually a Jamaican Model but yes I do agree he’s a ketch!!!!

WHO IS THE LUCKY GUY IN YOUR LIFE?
I dunno I can’t find him I must’ve misplaced him hahahhahhah... but when I do I’ll let yah know.

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR VERY FIRST GIG?
Yeah I do, It was at my friend /designer (Dean Chung) I sang at her fashion show and we’ve been Sisters since then.

DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF DRESS?
First of all this girl has to be comfortable, Yuh cyaaaannnn get me in anything I not feeling hahahah But I’d say it’s classy ,sexy with an edge

DESCRIBE YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT?
I fell off the stage once when I was about 9 infront of everyone hahahah... yeah that tops the list....Painful too hahahhah

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING FEMALE MUSICIANS?
Know yourself and the person and artist you wanna be or the world will decide it for you. Focus and practice practice practice and also remember you are unique and beautiful even when yah don’t feel it and you have everything inside of you to fullfill your dreams, Just trust God and buckle up for the ride cause it’s not always easy but along the way you’ll decide whether or not it’s worth it. Muah!!!!