Jackson Free Press

Jackson singer and songwriter Tawanna Shaunte's varied sound is a direct result of her diverse background. Like many Mississippi performers, she came from a musical family, and while she's proud that her music melds styles from around the world, she's rooted in the American South.

Her first musical experience came from her parents, Tommy and Grace Harper, who were heavily involved in their local church's music program in Florence, Miss. Her father, who was a gifted singer, inspired her to develop her own voice and songwriting skills. Though Tommy Harper died in a car accident when Tawanna Shaunte' was 12 years old, she still attributes her singing voice, in part, to vocal lessons she took from her father.

Tawanna Shaunte' says she started late in the game, forming the soulful funk band Eclectik Soul in 2007, while she was in her late 20s. The original lineup included keyboardist Symeon Robins, bassist Cedric Mitchell and drummer Gregory Stewart, who performed with well-known acts such as Kim Burell and David Banner. With a solid backing band of veteran players, Tawanna Shaunte' focused more on cultivating her songwriting and performance.

"It was definitely a wonderful experience ... in terms of me having a voice and wanting to express myself as a songwriter," she says. "But sometimes there just comes a point where you say, 'You know what? Let me see how this experience would be solo.'"

After two albums—2008's self-titled release and 2010's "Rising"—the band reached a lull in 2011. The musicians struggled to work around day jobs and personal schedules, and had little time to devote to new material.

"My former band members were educators, and another band member's mom passed away," she says. "We were just declining at the time, so it was the perfect place for me to say, 'I need to step out and really try,' not to do it on my own, but to experience what I've been wanting to for a long time."

Thus began her solo career. To craft a new sound, Tawanna Shaunte' dug deep into her musical preferences, but even more so, into her purpose.

The resulting music bears less resemblance to Eclectik Soul's catalog than one might think, easing away from some of the funk fundamentals of her earlier songs and taking on elements often associated with world music, including traditional instruments and prominent percussion.

While she's hesitant to place her songs in that genre, she aims to offer something everyone can relate to, without sacrificing her southern heritage.

"I think that's something universal, how people relate to music," she says. "For me, I couldn't really put a name on it. But I knew at the point that I began to sing that I definitely wanted to find something that wasn't just locked in a box."

Over the course of two years, Tawanna Shaunte' wrote her debut solo album, "Freedom Agent," which she plans to release in early 2015. The title refer to her, but also to teachers, chefs, business owners and everyday people who are trying to make the world a little better.

"I don't know if many people realize the power in that word," she says of freedom. "(It's) the liberty to be who you are, the liberty to have options, and also being able to say, 'I may not have the same opportunities as this person, but I'm going to strive anyway.'"

For more information on Tawanna Shaunte' and the latest news on "Freedom Agent," visit tawannashaunte.com, or find her music on Facebook.