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2005. As far back as I can remember, I was singing. Throughout my childhood, I took part in many national singing competitions like

and Childhood for me was very busy, always singing while squeezing in school, family and the occasional friendship I could sustain.”

She was scooped up very early in her career by a New York-based recording company Strictly Rhythm, where she was flown to the US and immediately began recording her debut album.

But after returning to SA, her quick rise to fame took a turn for the worst when her record deal fell through.

When I got back to South Africa, the label was liquidated not too long after. I thought that my dream was coming true but in the blink of an eye it was over and it was all taken away from me, my dream was shattered.

I fell into a deep depression which threw me into a downward spiral. I moved away from the spotlight and into the background as a backing vocalist and went back to using my birth name, Tia. I tried to stay in the dark as a backing singer.

But something clicked and I realised I had to pick myself up again. Now it’s time that I step back into the limelight as Tima Reece, the front-line singer, she says confidently.

She also confessed that she had to deal with child abuse issues.

I was molested as a child and it put a great amount of responsibility on me to make sure that it doesn’t happen to my children. I have dealt with and forgiven the person. Forgiveness is a place for healing. I’m looking at partnering with an organisation.

The 33-year-old Reece, from the south of Jozi, will be releasing her new album called next month and says she wants fans to be inspired to live in freedom.

It’s been a long time keeping my fans waiting but sometimes ... time can ignite growth. We tend to limit ourselves to what we think people want.

She says the album represents the end of an age of her being in the background for nine years.

It also took me nine months to produce the album, and is the title track. I write from experience, from my heart. Every song is representative of that, from lovehate relationships, girl power to inspirational songs.

What spurred me on to do this album even more was looking at my two sons, that if I don’t go after my own dreams how will they go after theirs? I can’t leave a legacy of failure behind for them.”

Reece and Herman have two sons, Ariel, 4, and Levi, 2. But how did these two beautiful people hook up?

Back in 2003 he was at Electromode studio doing a recording studio session, and the producer called me and asked me if I’d like to meet Kurt from 101 and I said yes. I actually ditched my mom’s birthday,” she giggles as she recalls the moment. The rest, as they say, is history. More than a romantic relationship, the two produced their own musical productions under their label, BluBerry Entertainment. They wrote music for production companies and for Miss South Africa, SABC2

and tribute to Luther Vandross, among others. Reece is also a vocal and performance coach on the singing TV show

We found that we have a good synergy together. The most important thing is communication; you have to be open with one another. We’re lucky because we re both in the industry. I’m more of a songwriter and he is more of a producer,” says Reece. What hurled her out of depression, she says is God, support of family and friends”.

When you reach a certain status you think you need a lot of friends, but you only need one or two people to help you believe in yourself again.” Her album will be released on November 30.