SPIN CONTROL 2

Cued Up: Alyson

Hard work is the new black Singer/Entreprenuer Alyson

Werking girl

She may have a rich voice, but you can't accuse fresh-faced dance vocalist Alyson of ever having a silver spoon in her mouth. "I didn't have any connections in the music business," the New York native says. "I didn't have any relatives who happened to be executives at record labels." What Alyson does have, however, are two hit dance singles-"What're You Gonna Do" and "Feel You"-and the knowledge that her success isn't owed to some daddy-dearest-type with deep pockets or some pre-packaged, glitzy hoopla. Alyson got her props the old-fashioned way: by grinding.

"I've heard so many stories of people who get signed to a label and who then get the rights to their music taken away," Alyson warns. "I've really been protective of the ownership of my music and I haven't been willing to give that up."

Rolling up her sleeves and greasing up her elbows, the gal set to work. "I completely schooled myself on how the record business works just by doing research and getting out there and meeting people," she says. "I visited record pool owners all around the country to get to know them and their DJs. That's how I got my music out there."

Of course, when you're working your ass off to get your music to the masses, it helps to have a veteran producer like Ralphi Rosario in your corner. Introduced to the legendary Chi-town spinner by remixer and pal Jason Randolph, Rosario's re-rubs of the singer's singles helped propel them to Top 10 status on the Billboard Club Play Chart and attach Alyson's name to numerous gay-themed circuit compilations. "Ralphi helped immensely," Alyson states. "Once his mixes were out there, the songs took on a new life and things were really taken to the next level." Ever the businesswoman (in addition to the dance diva), Alyson is prepping her next single, "Nothing More to Say," and overseeing the commercial pressing of her album Take a Good Look. Already available online via Alyson's web site, the CD will soon be available in stores supported by a host of music videos that (you guessed it) Alyson produced herself.

"I want to be able to write my own music and build my own career without relying on someone else to do it for me," she asserts. And when Alyson says something, you know she means business.