Singer Mýa opens up ahead of her performance at August Wilson Center

Mýa, a multi-platinum-selling singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, actress and philanthropist, will bare her soul at the August Wilson African American Culture Center’s “Soul Sessions” on Friday night.

The singer, who’s had hit songs with “Case of the Ex,” “My Love is Like … Wo” and “Lady Marmalade,” has also found success with her own record label, Planet 9.

“I love expression, really. I love all forms of art,” Mýa said in a phone interview.

Music is in her blood, and members of her family were her first teachers — her mother, when she was just 2 years old, and her grandfather, a musician and composer. Her father, a singer, was also a big part of her musical upbringing. “There were always musicians in the house, rehearsing and recording. It was just part of my upbringing,” she said.

Striking out on her own after an album leak soured her on the major label system, Mýa founded her own label, Planet 9, in 2008, and it has been a rewarding project for her and her fans alike.

“It’s really been a joint venture between me and my fans, or my supporters, as I refer to them,” she said.

She’s even brought some of those fans on as independent contractors and interns, thanks to the freedom and authority that comes with running the label.

“They’ve kept me motivated and inspired this whole time, and they’ve been a part of my independent journey,” she added.

On top of that, she loves the connection that social media has allowed her to make with people she wouldn’t get to know otherwise.

“There’s a lot of wonderful things discovered in those spaces … what they like, what they want and what they’re feeling,” she said.

Her debut record was released 26 years ago, and she’s still going strong, with a new album coming soon. But in that quarter-decade, the multi-talented musician has racked up accomplishments in other creative fields, including placing second in season nine of “Dancing with the Stars.”

“It was quite an amazing experience,” she said of her time on the show. But dancing her way through wasn’t as easy as it sounds. “The pressure was on because obviously, we’re performing in front of millions of people on live television.

“I learned so many styles of dance in so little time, but also the fundamentals and the technical aspects of each dance style, and that requires a lot of training … and we really only had a week to learn all that — plus all the choreography,” she explained.

Mýa is a perpetual collaborator, and her work on songs like “Ghetto Superstar” and “Lady Marmalade” have caught the attention of the Grammy Awards. She spoke highly of many producers and artists she’s worked with, especially the other women who made “Lady Marmalade.”

“In the studio, and rehearsing, and then with the video and, of course, live performances … just moments that take your breath away,” she said.

She also discussed how much fun she’s had working with Caribbean artists like Beenie Man, Shaggy and Sean Paul.

“There are a lot of fun things and parties that happen when you’re in the Caribbean … it’s always a great time when it feels like family, too,” she said.

Mýa has appeared in several films as an actor, netting awards as a member of the ensemble in the 2002 film “Chicago.” She sees acting as cathartic and therapeutic, and as another way to connect with an audience.

“I would love to do even more of it, especially now that I’ve lived life a little … acting can be so emotional. It can, of course, be fun, challenging, invigorating and even exhausting,” she said. “I enjoy every aspect of it.”

Her appearance at the August Wilson Center for “Soul Sessions” will be the first stop on a tour that is planned to go all the way through September.

“It’s going to be very musical. We’ll cover the hits, of course, but some different renditions of the hits, so revamped, revised and reimagined,” she said. “All the good vibes will be surfacing.”

Her new single “Anytime” was released on Valentine’s Day, and she has new music and visuals coming soon. “I’m very excited about the upcoming album,” she said.

Mýa will perform at the August Wilson African American Culture Center on Friday. For more information and tickets, awaacc.org.