R&B singer-songwriter Tamera King opens up about faith, femininity, and the healing power of storytelling in her music.

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““Writing has always been therapeutic for me; I can articulate my emotions in a song so much better than I can in regular conversation.” – Tamera King

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It is not every day that we have the opportunity to listen to a song that resonates so deeply with our own personal battles and triumphs, making it feel as if it were written from the intimate pages of our diaries. Even rarer is the chance to speak directly with the artist behind it, to peek into their creative genius and walk away with a profound understanding of what it means to craft music that not only moves listeners but also evokes something vulnerable and spirit-stirring within them.

Fortunately, Ratings Game Music (RGM) had the privilege of doing just that with rising R&B singer-songwriter Tamera King. In our interview with the Boston native, Tamera reveals why being “That Girl” means choosing self-love and embracing the complexities of confidence as a woman of faith. Both an inspiring artist and an advocate for living in your own truth, Tamera does not shy away from using her gift for raw, emotional storytelling to carve out a space for healing, honest self-reflection, and resilience in the music industry.

For Tamera King, her songs are more than just a vehicle to showcase her powerful vocals—they are an invitation to find freedom in femininity.

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RGM: Much of your discography features songs that explore the nature of romantic relationships, and a common theme among these songs is the speaker setting boundaries on the kind of love they are willing to give and accept. When it comes to writing and creating these songs of romantic empowerment, how do you find yourself showing up in your own music? How do these themes of learning how to choose yourself translate from your own heart and life experiences into a finished song?

I think songwriting is really special for me because there’s always a piece of my life woven into it. Through therapy and my relationship with God, I’ve learned the importance of setting boundaries both romantically and platonically, and what that truly looks like. Sometimes that means saying no, or choosing not to continue a relationship. This mentality actually inspired one of my songs, Second Chances. When I practice those boundaries in real life, it becomes so much easier to express them through my music. And the older I get, the more I realize how many young women need to hear that same message in order to set themselves free.

RGM: In your “This Girl to That Girl” series, you mention that in your own personal journey of learning to embody confidence, you had to spend some intentional time in isolation, asking yourself some hard questions. Can you speak on what kind of hard questions you had to ask yourself and what those answers revealed to you about yourself? If you were writing music during this period of isolation, how did those revelations appear in your writing? Have you seen your artistic expression transform since you learned how to be more confident in yourself?

Oh, I love this question! I think some of the hardest questions I had to face were really just questions that pointed back to what I wanted out of life. I asked myself things like, “What does the dream version of me do every day?” “What truly fulfills me, and how can I embody that?” and “What do I need to let go of to become all that God has called me to be?” Honestly, that last one was the hardest because it meant letting go of not just things, but also people. During that season of isolation, I wasn’t even making music. I think I was too sad. But once I came out of it, the writing started to flow again, and all of those revelations just spilled out. Writing has always been therapeutic for me; I can articulate my emotions in a song so much better than I can in regular conversation. 

And yes–I’ve definitely seen my artistic expression transform as I’ve grown more confident. A lot of it is really an energy thing; when I’m on set, I feel so much more grounded in who I am. Even in the studio, I know I’m That Girl, so my music has become way bossier, and honestly, I love that for me!

RGM: You graduated from NYU in 2022 with your Degree in Music Business. How has your background in the study of Music Business impacted your career as an artist? Were there things you learned in school that directly contradicted your “on the ground experience?” How did your education prepare you for the music industry?

The music business is so important. I know many artists don’t like it because it can feel overwhelming, but I actually loved learning about it. It’s given me the ability to be more inquisitive, knowing the right questions to ask and making sure I read every detail of anything I’m involved in. It also shifted my perspective. I understand now that creating music isn’t just about content or being in the studio—it’s also about putting in the work on the back end, especially as an “underground” artist (hopefully not for long!). Thankfully, nothing I learned really contradicted my real world experience. If anything, NYU prepared me tremendously. I took classes on marketing, finance, concert building, music publishing etc. They touched on every avenue of the industry, and I’m extremely grateful for that.

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RGM: As a woman of faith, how do you balance the relationship between Tamera King: The Artist and Tamera King: The Christian? Are they the same woman? How does one persona influence the other in conversation with the art you put out to the world?

Yes! Tamera King: The Artist and Tamera King: The Christian are one and the same. One can’t exist without the other. I believe part of my purpose is to help heal people, whether that’s through heartbreak, confidence, or self-love—and I couldn’t do that without my faith. God is the one guiding me, correcting me, and leading me along the way.

RGM: You’re an advocate for trusting your own process. When it comes to releasing new music, booking shows, and marketing yourself as a singer, what does trusting the process look like for you?

Trusting the process, to me, looks like aligning myself with opportunities that feel right, but most importantly, humbling myself before God. I see rejection as redirection, and before I walk through any door of opportunity, I always pray for both fulfillment and protection. At the end of the day, trusting the process really means trusting God, even when things move more slowly than I’d like them to.

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RGM: The storytelling in your music is incredibly intimate, lyrically beautiful, and very powerful. How do you discern who to work with on projects that require your vulnerability and trust? What qualities do you value or prioritize when choosing collaborators?

Discernment is really important to me, so I have to feel comfortable around someone before I can be vulnerable. Sometimes that takes time and familiarity, but it usually happens naturally. The qualities I value are pretty simple—someone who is respectful, patient, and highly creative. Honestly, I love it when someone is even more creative than I am because it pushes me to go harder and challenges my abilities in the studio.

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RGM: You’ve mentioned before how your aunt was the person who brought you to your first studio session at the age of 13. How do you think having someone who believed in you so much from such an early stage in your music career affected the way you navigated the music industry growing up? What song or project do you think your aunt would be the proudest of, and why?

It’s affected me in so many positive ways. Honestly, whenever I feel like giving up, I think about her. I remember telling her once that I really wanted to do music, and without hesitation, she said, “Okay, do it.” That level of confidence was all I needed, and she backed it up not just with her words, but by showing up for me in real life. I think she’d be really proud of “Second Chances” because of the emotional weight and impact it carries. And I know she’d love “Either Way” too, because she was all about bossy records, and “Either Way” definitely gives off that vibe.

RGM: With 17k+ streams, your song “Second Chances” is your most popular release on Spotify. What do you believe is the reason fans have resonated so much with this single? What does that song mean to you as the artist?

I think “Second Chances” resonated so much because people can actually see themselves in it. There’s a version of all of us that has repeated cycles, second-guessed love, or struggled to walk away—and that’s such a universal experience. As the artist, “Second Chances” means the world to me. I actually wrote it the day after finally choosing to walk away from a situation that was no longer serving me. To me, the song represents growth and the power of choosing myself over toxic cycles.

RGM: With the latest release of “Either Way” in July of this year, should fans anticipate your sophomore album following your 2021 debut, Traumatized Lover, to drop anytime soon? If so, what story are you hoping to tell with a new album? How will this album be different or similar to your last?

Ooh, anticipation is always a good thing, so for sure! I’m not sure exactly when, but it’s definitely going to happen. With my next album, I want to really explore the feelings of being in love. I want all love songs! I think it’ll feel different from my previous projects, which often included storylines of heartbreak. This time, I just want to switch it up and focus on love in its purest form.

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You can listen to Tamera King on Spotify and follow her on Instagram @tameraking_ to stay up to date with her upcoming projects.

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