Nyanda
I love Nyanda’s casual elegance. Jamaican-born Nyanda won Lipstick Radio’s 2014 Indie Music Awards Best Reggae Song for Slippery When Wet. Nyanda has been working with Khymberlee Carlyle from Lipstick Radio for about one year. “I’m so appreciative of all the support and encouragement. It humbles me and makes me feel like the hard work is paying off.”
As you know, the award winners were selected by their fans. Nyanda explained, “I call my fans the Nya Tribe, and I like to communicate with my fans through my Facebook page. Interaction with my fans is so important. I also communicate through Instagram.”
Nyanda explained, “In fact, the fans chose Slippery When Wet. I didn’t know what single I should put out, so I posted the list of songs and I asked them to give their feedback about which one I should submit. They said Slippery When Wet, so that’s why I ended up going with that one.”
Awesome! Nyanda asked her fans what they’d vote for and she gave it to them.
Nyanda and her sisters grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. “Jamaican people have an appreciation for different genres of music. I think Reggae music is more in my soul, and I also draw from pop music and R&B. My parents played an eclectic selection. They played Bob Marley, yet they also played Barbara Streisand. I’m grateful for the exposure. I have 3 other sisters and we started singing together in church.”
As a child, Nyanda took piano lessons, but she did not like the classes. She has taken a few voice lessons, “I think my main lessons have just been singing along with artists…just school of life!”
Nyanda has been an indie solo artist for a little over a year. Many of Nyanda’s fans know her from the group Brick & Lace, where she sings with her sister Nailah. “At the beginning of 2013, we both decided that we wanted to take a break and do solo projects.”
Now that Nyanda is a solo artist, she has the chance to collaborate with other artists in the US, Jamaica and Africa, including Mr Vegas, Assassin, Muss, Barbara Kanam, The Wizard, Kat Dahlia and BlackLion. “I want to collaborate with people who are very passionate about what they do and we have a musical chemistry.”
What’s up next for Nyanda? She just released a single called I Love Sax. We’re touring. I just came back from Holland. I’m in promoting I Love Sax mode right now, and I’m putting the final touches on my album. That’s what I’m doing…grinding!”
Well, keep on grinding Ms. Nyanda. We’re rooting for you!
Watch the complete video interview on the Amused Now YouTube channel: http://youtu.be/MKlekAczBLo
2014 Indie Music Awards Winners Series
Nyanda
www.officialnyanda.com
@nyandaBnL
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Cynthia Kahn, Founder of Amused Now
@Amused_Now
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