The world can seem a small place sometimes. Kaya Jones is on the line from her home in LA, and immediately gets excited to learn she is speaking to a Calgary based publication.

"My mom actually created a logo for the Calgary Stampede in the 1970’s! My Mom did graphic design for years, a lot of the reason why my family is based out of Canada is because my mother migrated from Jamaica. My Dad is American but I was born in Canada. She also did a Petro Canada logo; she lived in Calgary for a little while before I was born."

The blonde beauty is a former member of the Pussycat Dolls from 2003 to 2006, which was the jumping point for her solo career.

"It was really a good learning experience professionally and personally. I wouldn’t be here on the phone with you if I hadn’t had that path and opportunity. Leaving was about me wanting to really express myself more as an artist and really be a part of everything in my art. It probably comes from being around my Mom as an artist my whole life. I have the opportunity now to really be involved and write my songs, approve my songs, be part of that process of working hand in hand with the writers and producers."

One of her first brushes with mega-fame was alongside Katy Perry as background vocalists for Mick Jagger on the song Old Habits Die Hard from the film Alphie. The song won a Golden Globe in 2005.

"When I was writing with (Eurythmics’) Dave Stewart for the Pussycat Dolls in London, we were having dinner and he asked what my musical dreams were. I said I had two: to sing the national anthem at the Superbowl and to sing with Mick Jagger. At the time those were it, it has changed since then. He said, you have really good tone, I think Mick would love your voice. That was the end of the conversation. Six months later I was in Los Angeles and he called me and told me to come down to the studio and pop my head in. I walked into the studio not expecting anything, he gave me no hint, and there is Mick Jagger in the recording booth. It was very surreal and insane, more than a dream come true. I was able to meet him and the musicians that evening. The following day Dave brought me in with Katy Perry who was doing a different style of music in 2004, pre I Kissed a Girl and we worked as backup singers for Mr. Jagger. So (it was cool) working with Katy who is an awesome human being but, to work with a legend was very cool."

Jones released an EP, Release on November 8th in advance of a full length album in 2012.

"Release is a teaser. The full length album is called Electrified which is a lot of dutch house electro music and dance, it is about having a good time. Release is about letting out your inner light, being who you are and letting people shine and not being scared of your gift and uniqueness."

The current single Boyfriend is about being dumped for a man, and that is ok. The song was shopped around for five years without a taker, until the opportunity to record it landed in her lap.

"I love going away from the grain and doing something different. Travis Huff, the producer and co-writer of the song, and I were recording another song and talking about doing something different and he said    . It is a song about a girl whose boyfriend dumps her for another man and it was passed by major artists and companies, no one wanted to attack it. He played it for me and it spoke to me in so many ways. My cousin is openly gay now but I have watched his struggle to come out to friends and family, and seen some of my friends dealing with it. I have an opportunity to shed light on things that others don’t have a voice for. I loved the idea that Trevor thought I was good for the song, it made sense for me to tackle it. A good song is a good song regardless of its message, if you like the message you should share it with the world as much as you can.  I am really happy I did that."

It is a subject that happens a lot in real life but is rarely dealt with in pop culture. For that reason, the subject has resonated with fans who have heard it.

"Every girl needs a gay! It is definitely something that happens; a lot of my male gay friends have said that before they came out they lied. Everyone in our family thought my cousin was a major player with girls but it was a facade. Finally when he came out and was able to be who he is and open it was wonderful and beautiful. But he had a lot of pain and struggled with that. It is a message that it is not taboo, it happens, and everyone needs to relate to things. That is what art is about, finding that relationship with your audience. It is something I dealt with when I was 12 years old in school, and I didn’t realize it. My best friend was gay and we would hold hands but he had a boyfriend, we were all best friends and there was no judgment because we were so young and hadn’t heard people make fun of us. It is definitely something girls can relate to and I have had fans say thanks, I went through this."

Kaya Jones is on the Equality Tour promoting equal marriage in the USA.

"A few years ago I wanted to do something with the armed forces. I went over to Iraq and performed for the troops which was amazing. I realized when I went over there how many men and women were closeted because they kind of had to be. I had a lot of fans reach out to me and make me understand these issues in America a little bit more. Canada is so forward in this aspect, in America we are still struggling. If you can fight for your country and die for your country, you deserve as a human being to have rights in your country. They are putting limitations on what love is about. It is not about gender or being gay or straight, love is a gift and everybody deserves to give and receive love. The Equality Tour is not a party thing, and the gay community has been poorly represented in a lot of ways. It is about performing in the communities and getting the message out there standing up for my gay friends and fans, that I support marriage equality and who you are. Of course Lady Gaga is on the forefront of that and I have to take my hat off to her because she is doing something, actually standing up for what you believe in and these rights and issues."

It is her way of giving back to the community that has supported her, she said.

"(My gay fans) have been really, really helpful. Coming from a girl group we had a lot of male fans and it was wonderful to see the gay fans move with me on this journey of being a solo artist. I feel really blessed that I have had such wonderful fans, gay and straight, that have been really welcoming. The gay fans were the first to book me for things like LA Pride and give me the opportunity I didn’t have off the bat. I do have to say that my gay audience means a lot to me, which is why it isn’t just about being an audience but being there for them as much as they have been for me."

Although the battle for gay marriage ended 6 years ago in Canada, Jones is making plans to return to her country of birth as well.

"We are in discussions right now about a New Years Eve show and multiple dates within Canada. I was born and grew up in Toronto and I feel I am a mix of both – my mother was born in Jamaica, moved to Canada at a young age and I was born there - my father is American. I really do feel that I am American and Canadian and I am very proud to be both. I miss things like ketchup chips and poutine, the mixtures of cultures and foods, so I am excited to come up and tour Canada."