MishonIt’s not unusual for an actor to release an album, or a musician to star in movies and television. What’s rare is to do both before the age of 16. (And to be a pretty hot dancer, to boot.)

Mishon just became legal to drive in the United States, but he has already starred in three seasons of ABC’s Lincoln Heights and is releasing his second LP, The Yearbook,  this fall.

With a two singles circulating the airwaves, “Excuse Me, Mama” and “Just a Kiss,” attention is flying fast and heavy at the budding triple threat. Mishon was taken under the wing of producer extraordinaire Vincent Herbert, who signed the young R&B singer to his new label Streamline Records, a joint venture with Interscope. Herbert, known for working with major pop stars such as Lady GaGa, Destiny’s Child and Toni Braxton, produced The Yearbook alongside Mishon.

“It’s reassuring to know that someone like that is behind you,” Mishon says. “It’s great being around him, he works hard.”

Mishon is no stranger to hard work himself. He has been living the abstract life of a teen pop star since he was 9, when he was picked up by Dynasty Records, which released his first album, Still Mishon, in 2004.

But before Mishon had the chance to settle into his career as a musician, he was cast in a lead role on ABC’s Lincoln Heights. After three seasons playing the kid brother to the leading character, Mishon signed on for another two seasons and is currently on set filming in Los Angeles, incidentally his hometown.

Although television was his first big break into the mainstream, Mishon’s focus lies in music.

“I definitely realized singing first,” Mishon says. “I’ve been singing ever since I was a baby, actually. I’ve been moulding my craft ever since [singing to Dynasty]. It’s been a blessing to have the experience I’ve had so far.”

Citing influences such as Michael Jackson and Usher, Mishon’s calling card has become his R&B ballads like “Excuse Me, Mama.”

“That song was basically about being chivalrous,” Mishon says of the song that details a young guy in a shopping mall swooning over a beautiful girl. Instead of approaching her directly, Mishon sings about being a gentleman and asking her mother’s permission. “Like I could say, ‘Excuse me, mama. Hey, you’re daughter is fine, can I get her number?’”

The song was written by Dwight Watson a.k.a. King Pin, an up-and-coming writer in the biz, according to Mishon. But Mishon has also written songs about his personal experiences, such as another ballad “Sidelines,” which he performed on Lincoln Heights as part of their prom episode.

“It speaks about me liking a girl and she knows it, but she has me on the sideline just waiting for her,” Mishon says. So what happened? “We got together but we broke up like a week later,” he says, with a laugh.

Although Mishon’s music personality is laden with charm and suave, his social life is a low-key one. Because of his packed schedule, Mishon is home-schooled by his mother, Shontay. The closest he ever got to the typical high school experience is on the set of Lincoln Heights, and though his career is something he would never sacrifice, he admits it isn’t easy to live at such an accelerated pace.

His closest friends are his parents, his summers are spent on tour or on set, and instead of going to his own prom, he is hiring himself out in a contest on his website for one lucky lady to win him as a date to their prom.

“I felt like prom is just a big thing for a lot of people,” Mishon says of the contest, which also includes a full shopping spree for the winner.

Increasing his visibility as the release date for The Yearbook approaches is paramount for the fledgling star, hence the contest and the blog and the Twitter account. Plans for a tour later this year are in the works, although no concrete details have been announced. Mishon is even a veteran on tour, as he hit the road last summer with BET’s Black College Tour with Chamillionaire.

“That was crazy, a lot of screaming girls,” Mishon says. “Being on stage and hearing people sing my songs, like ‘Excuse Me,’ the whole song all the way through, is pretty life-changing.”

His next tour will only mean bigger audiences and, well, more screaming girls if things keep up the way they’re going.

“I think over the past five or six years I’ve had ups and downs but I think that this time I’m really gonna do it,” Mishon says. “Like I say, I’ve got Interscope behind me working hard. It’s all about focus. As long as you stay focussed, you’ll reach your goal.

“I love music, I love to dance. It’s just in my heart, and if you love something, why not pursue it?”






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