Twenty-year-old Amanda Willaford recently hit the music scene and has made a name for herself on radio and MTV’s greatly popular countdown show, TRL. A native of Florida, Willa began singing at age eight with a choir from Tampa Bay. ‘Ever since I could talk, I wanted to be a performer,’ she recalls. ‘I'd be in the middle of the living room, singing, and dancing, and doing somersaults.’ At age 11 she started performing with a group that put on variety shows throughout the Tampa Bay area. Think musical talent is all this girl has? No way! She maintained being an honor student while pursuing a career in entertainment. Willa is even determined to write much of her material, which is a respectful thing. ‘I mostly come up with stories from my own life,’ she says, ‘but I also think about stuff my friends are going through. And sometimes I just make up a character that I want to be, like 'I Wanna Be Bad.'‘ So, she’s not some girl who gets arrested, like in the video for “I Wanna Be Bad.” Sure, she has an edgy sidebut Willa just wants to be herself, ‘I'm not trying to pretend to be sweet and then come out and be bad. This is who I am.” She’s completely real, and maybe that’s what will draw people towards her.

This girl’s music isn’t Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera; it’s just Willa!. Willa Ford has a more urban, r&b sound, mixed with pop. That combination plus her great voice is just irresistible! With an album out on July 17, 2001, she is sure to be pushed to well deserved super-stardom, after many years of driving herself to her goal.

You want reality? Some people are always going to dislike her because of rumors about her life. Backstreet fans (and I am one of you!), give her a chance! She is really talented and if nothing, give her credit for being herself and trying to be involved with her music, as far as writing. I think Willa Ford is a talented singer who we’ll definitely be seeing more of in the future.





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