They are Erica and Tina Campbell: the multi-award winning sister duo behind the chart-topping ‘Shackles’, one of the most commercially successful gospel singles of the 2000s. Between the two of them they have a reality TV show, four Grammy’s and seven children. Dami Abajingin caught up with the Marys.
You’ve been in the industry for over a decade – how did it all begin?
It began with us being songwriters. Our song, ‘Shackles’ gained interest from Columbia/Sony records after one of their executives heard it. Soon after, we were in NYC for a meeting with them and a couple other labels, but we chose Sony and the rest is history.
Working with family can be challenging, how have you balanced the work/sister relationship?
It was a lot harder when we first began but when you mature as women, everything becomes a bit easier. You want the best solution more than you want to get your way. You begin to listen a little more, give the respect and consideration that you’d like, value what the other person brings to the relationship and what you’ve created together. That perspective alone makes getting along a lot easier.
You started a reality TV show back in 2012. How did that come about?
Networks were interested in our lives and we had an opportunity to share what a modern day person of faith with a very normal, yet celebrity lifestyle looked like. Many people have a better outlook on faith and people of faith since we did it. So despite the fact TV can be overwhelming at times, along with our hectic careers and large families, we’re glad we chose to share our lives and our faith.
What have you learnt about yourselves since you began the show?
We’ve learnt we can stand a great deal of improvement: personally, professionally, and spiritually. Our show is not created – it’s real life, lived out in real time and recorded for the world to see. The show has provided an opportunity for self-reflection. We’re grateful for our careers, the people who help us with all that entails; our fans, our families.
So you don’t have any regrets about making your personal lives public?
None at all. We love our lives, our Christian faith, our families, our careers, our fans, and we wouldn’t trade any of it for anything. All of our experiences have taught us something about life, love, people, and ourselves. We’ve become better, stronger and wiser because of it. So there are no regrets, just gratitude.
So what can we expect next?
We are on a brief hiatus from recording as Erica pursues her solo career and to allow Tina to explore a solo writing career and musical efforts. But we’re still touring as Marys and will be back in the studio together in 2015.
