Whether on the radio, performing live or recorded on her new album, Tantra has a strong presence.

Many in Honolulu may hear her on the radio at Power 104.3 FM, where she co-hosts an upbeat morning program alongside partner in crime KC. Before her gig there, she was a radio personality at Star 101.9, and before that, she was on Maui at reggae station Q103.7.

Clearly, the woman has a way of connecting with people, and she projects great energy, over the air and in person. With sensual, bold style, presence and persistence, she embodies qualities that make for an entertainer that people take notice of.

Her sandpaper-meets-honey voice is perfect for the airwaves, but she has also set her sights beyond the microphone.

A longtime writer and performer of hip-hop music, Tantra has been quietly recording her debut album, “Love’s Heretic,” over the past three years.

After perfecting the tracks and getting everything mixed just the way she wants it, Tantra is ready to release the album, with a launch party at Hawaiian Brian’s. Hip-hop fans are in for a night full of powerful local performers.

One thing to note about Tantra is that she’s both kind and fearless. She has an easy demeanor, but at the same time you get the impression that there is a pit bull underneath. It’s kind of a necessary personality trait for women in entertainment, and she brings it to her upcoming album debut.

We checked in with Tantra to get her thoughts:

Honolulu Star-Advertiser: Your album is called “Love’s Heretic.” What does the title mean to you?

Tantra: “Love’s Heretic” was the first song I ever wrote about real love. It was a defining moment for me as a writer and storyteller in hip-hop. It’s about taking a stand for love. I’ll take a stand for love even if I have to stand alone, because I believe in the purity of it and the realism of it. And I take a journey as this martyr of love in my music. The theme is evident throughout the album.

SA: How long have you been doing hip-hop?

T: I’ve been writing poetry since I was 12 years old. Being heavily influenced by hip-hop growing up in Tustin, Calif., I naturally took my poems to beats, and started recording when I was 16 in Santa Ana, Calif., at Hot Traxx Studios. The song was called “Braintrust.” Since then I’ve been so blessed to work with producers and engineers, rapping out of garages, closets and multimillion-dollar studios, from Cali to New York City to Hawaii — and eventually, Egypt.

SA: What is your favorite song on the album?

T: “Love Responsibly.” It just flowed, because I was on the brink of exploding at the time. I cried while recording it, on the eve of my 29th birthday at Rawk Solid Productions studio in Wailuku, Maui. … My heart jumped out of my throat on that track. I’ve never felt so naked on a song. I laid it out and I was a different person once it was completed. It’s just raw — and more human that I’ve ever allowed myself to be.

SA: Where did you do the recording, and who produced?

T: Most of the tracks were recorded with Vince Esquire, my producer in Wailuku, in 2013.

SA: What kind of a performance can fans expect (tonight)?

T: I’ll be performing mostly with a DJ, but will be backed up for one song, the acoustic one, by Calvi Dread of Inna Vision. For a couple of other songs, I have live drums and bass behind me.

SA: What’s inspiring you?

T: The content of my writing is always inspired by my real life. This may sound wild, but I try not to listen to too much music as a comparison to what I do, because I don’t want to be influenced subconsciously. Cadence, delivery and vocal swagger are what I study and my inspirations at the moment in that regard are Drake, Wiz Khalifa and of course Nicki Minaj. Drake is a genius. Wiz doesn’t get enough credit as a recording artist for his mere ability to record hooks, verses and sing — I’m not talking about content, I’m talking about ability. Nicki’s album “The Pinkprint” blew me away. It’s nice to see vulnerability in an A-grade artist; I appreciate that. I love the Living Legends, 2Pac, Biggie, Foxy Brown, Jean Grae, M83, Kid Ink, Eluvium … Kings of Leon, The Killers, Cassettes Won’t Listen, Lana Del Rey … Kendrick Lamar, Lil’ Kim, Three 6 Mafia — man, the list continues.

SA: What is your writing process like?

T: I need to be alone. I like to write in the most vulnerable but safest places, with candles lit and maybe a needle circling a record on my turntables. It doesn’t even have to be hip-hop music. Most of the “Love’s Heretic” album was written in my bed. At times, I like to write in studio because the booming musical energy surrounds me. I also tend to formulate thoughts on a track in my head for a while before I put pen to paper. And yes, I said pen to paper; I’m old school. When something pulls at my heart, I’ll write down a bar or a verse that tends to come through to me at the most random times. Airplanes have been great places for my writing as well. Because it forces me to shut off technology, hone in and be with my quiet self. Clouds make a great writing atmosphere.

SA: How are things different for a female in hip-hop?

T: Women in hip-hop have come a long way. And today we are blessed to see so many conscious women out there doing their thing and staying true to who they are and what their “story” is, without having to conform to societal norms. I think that women emcees need to know it’s OK to tell their own story; our personal experiences and stories are actually more authentic to hear because it’s relevant to who a woman actually is, as opposed to what a lot of men have deemed women in the rap industry to be. … Tell it the way you felt it.