Sugar & Spice

Sugar & Spice is the fifth studio album by Mya.

The album was released on December 3, 2008 on Japanese independent record label Manhattan Recordings following Mya's departure from Universal Motown Records in early 2008.

It was the first of Mya's many independently-released projects through her own record label imprint Planet 9.

The project came to surface in 2007. Her fourth album "Liberation" was leaked in Japan only after her former record label forgot to pull it from release in that territory without Mya's knowledge.

Mya decided to opt out of her contract instead of spending a year and "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in court suing her record label Motown\Universal.

From there, Japan asked her to record more albums exclusively for the Japanese market since Japan loved the "Liberation" album.

The album was recorded between the months of September and November of 2008.

The production was primary handled by a variety of low—profile producers, enlisting the help of Arkatech Beatz, Riddim Fingaz, The Smith Bros & Duke Williams among others.

Mya took full creative control co-writing the entire album with producer Christopher Moore and served as the executive producer.

The guest artists on the album included rappers Tre & Faith Boogie and dancehall musician Sean Paul.

In her own words, Mya described the album as "a compilation with all positive energy and song content."

The album only spawned one single "Paradise" which was released on October 31, 2008.

The album debuted at number fifty-three on Japan's Oricon Albums Chart.

Album Background
After releasing "Moodring" in 2003 and appearing on "Dancing with the Stars" (where she finished in second), it seemed as if Mya had left the entertainment industry.

In 2004 (after the release of "Moodring"), Mya ended up in a year-long litigation with her management.

In late 2005, she made a transition within the Universal system from Interscope to Universal Motown.

In 2007, Mya's fourth album "Liberation" was accidentally released in Japan when the release date changed.

At the time when Mya was with Motown/Universal, her lawyer advised that she doesn't waste time & money taking the issue to court, so Mya decided to go into the independent music route instead.

Japan loved the "Liberation" album so much, a company called Manhattan Recordings (which is located in Japan) approached Mya about doing business with them.

Album Production
The production on the album was handled by a variety of less-known producers. Harrison started producing the album in September of 2008.

The album's lead single "Paradise" was produced by Riddim Fingaz, a native of Jamaica who has produced and worked with a lot of reggae stars such as Ky-Mani Marley, Sean Paul and Wayne Wonder.

"Almost Naked" was produced by Young Yonny (a young producer who lives in Cleveland, Ohio).

Mya and Yonny worked together two years ago on other various projects prior to her fifth album.

Singer-songwriter Stevie Hoang, a producer in the UK was asked to contribute two songs to the album ("Sold On Your Love" & "One For You").

Mya said she chose to cover Diana King's song "Shy Guy" because it was a favorite childhood song.

Another track, "Music Be The Music" incorporates 80's dance music. In interview when asked why she chose to put a song like this on the album, Mya replied, "because I like to dance and I like to party."

"Cry No More" (a ballad) is about a man having to endure suffering while he's away from his significant other.

Among Mya's favorites songs on the album; the mid-tempo track "Ego Trippin'" which is a song about women who rarely apologize in certain situations and the up-tempo dance number "Back to Disco."

Through this album, Mya said:

"listeners should get a feel for various feelings; further more saying I just want to empathize with others with my experiences. We all are different, each day will have a lot experiences.

''In the words of Tteiu, Sugar & Spice means to have a wonderful life. This album is a little sugar, a little spice, it's two side of Mýa.''"

Album Tracklisting
Standard Album Version Bonus Tracks The Perfect Edition Bonus CD
 * 1) Must Be the Music (4:55) (written by Mya Harrison & Christopher Moore; produced by Jimmy "Klev" Juarez)
 * 2) Paradise (3:24) (written by Mya Harrison & Christopher Moore; produced by Riddim Fingaz)
 * 3) Sold On Your Love (5:55) (written by Mya Harrison & Christopher Moore; produced by Stevie Hoang)
 * 4) One For You (4:06) (written by Mya Harrison & Christopher Moore; produced by Stevie Hoang)
 * 5) Almost Naked (3:39) (written by Nia Myricks & Pamela Shipp; produced by Yonny)
 * 6) Cry No More (4:23) (written by Mya Harrison & Christopher Moore; produced by D. Botts)
 * 7) Ego Trippin' (4:06) (written by Mya Harrison & Elizabeth Wyce; produced by the Smith Brothers)
 * 8) Let's Go to War (introducing Faith Boogie) (3:05) (written by Mya Harrison, Christopher Moore and Faith Waldron; produced by Yonny & Mya)
 * 9) All In Your Mind (3:02) (written by Mya Harrison & Christopher Moore; produced by Leroy "Mr. Lee" Williams
 * 10) Shy Guy (4:03) (written by Kingsley Gardner, Diana King, Andy Marvel & Mya Harrison; produced by KO Tha Trakaholik & Duke)
 * 11) Money Can't Buy My Love (4:50) (written by Mya Harrison & Christopher Moore; produced by Michael Duqe)
 * 12) Back to Disco (70's Disco) (4:28) (written by Mya Harrison & Christopher Moore; produced by Mike "Trauma" D.)
 * 1) Fallen (Part Two) (feat. Tre) (3:44) (written by Mya Harrison & Christopher Moore; produced by Tre Hardson, Rich "Nieze" Shelton, Kevin Veny & Loren Hill)
 * 2) Paradise (Remix) (feat. Sean Paul) (3:24) (written by Mya Harrison & Christopher Moore; produced by Riddim Fingaz)
 * 1) Wish You Were Here (feat. Che'Nelle) (4:12)
 * 2) Paradise (Ryan Leslie Remix) (3:42) (written by Mya Harrison, Christopher Moore & Ryan Leslie; produced by Ryan Leslie)
 * 3) Sold On Your Love (4:30)
 * 4) One For You (4:06)
 * 5) Almost Naked (3:39)
 * 6) Cry No More (4:23)
 * 7) Ego Trippin' (4:06)
 * 8) Let's Go to War (introducing Faith Boogie) (3:05)
 * 9) All In Your Mind (3:02)
 * 10) Shy Guy (DJ Hasebe Remix) (4:03) (written by Kingsley Gardner, Diana King, Andy Marvel, Mya Harrison & DJ Hasebe; produced by DJ Hasebe)
 * 11) Money Can't Buy My Love (4:50)
 * 12) Back to Disco (70's Disco) (4:28)
 * 13) Must Be the Music (4:55) (written by Mya Harrison & Christopher Moore; produced by Jimmy "Klev" Juarez)
 * 14) Lock U Down (feat. Lil Wayne) (3:37)
 * 15) Fallen (Remix feat. Fatlip & Tre) (4:53) (written by Mya Harrison, Christopher Moore & Tre Hardson)
 * 16) Fallen (Part 2 feat. Tre) (3:44)
 * 17) Ayo! (feat. DJ Kool) (3:53)
 * 18) Girls Dem Sugar (feat. Beenie Man) (4:28)
 * 19) Sugar Daddy (feat. Cuban Link) (3:51)
 * 20) Paradise (DJ Mayumi Remix) (3:42)
 * 1) My Perfect Mix (53:44) (hosted by Mya & produced by DJ Hasebe)

Album Release & Promotion
On the day "Sugar & Spice" was released in Japan, Mya visited HMV Store at Takagi Bldg. in Shibuya, Tokyo for a live performance and an autograph signing.

Two days after that, she made a stop at Fever in Ageha Shibuya, Tokyo to hold an album release party for her fifth studio album.

Planet 9 Label
In 2008, Mya created her own label imprint Planet 9.

Since parting ways with Universal Motown, she has released four independently self-funded executive produced projects "Sugar & Spice" (and the "Sugar & Spice": The Perfect Edition), "Beauty & the Streets Vol. 1" and "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)."

In 2009, she spoke with "Rolling Out" magazine, elaborating more on her hiatus from music and decision to go independent:

“''I’ve never stopped doing music. I’ve created a label called Planet 9 and I released an album in Japan. I invested in my own studio and it cut the recording cost down 95 percent. I have my own in-house producers and they are not as expensive as an established producer. The return is greater and now I own my masters. I see six dollars per album sold versus 10 cents. You may not sell as many units because you don’t put as much money in promotions, but the returns are better.''”

Later in the interview, Mya voiced her opinion on the major difference between major record labels and independent labels, saying with:

“''Major labels have a system that you have to go through. The people in power dictate how things should sound and where the money is spent. But when you become your own boss, you check every line item and you have to be cautious.''”