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Ayana John:
Singer, Songwriter, Entrepreneur
out-of-Jamaica and Body featuring MOBO nominated Jamaican recording artiste, Sizzla Kalonji. A record haul of Barbados Music Award Nominations followed, making for the most nominations acquired by a solo female for the year, 2009: Soul Female Entertainer of the Year Best Collaboration (Paper Chase) Song of the Year Female Entertainer of the Year After the release of two subsequent extended play (EPs) entitled Royal Blue in 2010 and Ignite in 2011 which featured successful singles, Can t Keep Up and Baby (2010) and Iron Heart and It Ends Tonight (2011), respectively, a desire to qualify in Performance Arts and Music resulted in a Distinction in Popular Music Practice from The Tech Music School in London with certi?cation from the London College of Music in June, 2012. In a career highlight, this energetic live performer was also chosen as the headline act of the Graduation line-up held at the Legendary
‘.... Time to let my music do the talking....‘ Ayana John
This issue s artist pro?le chronicles the achievements of one of Barbados most proli?c singer/songwriter/ entrepreneur, Ayana John who has been in the music business since 2005. Just visualize being the recipient of a Bachelor s degree in Mathematics alongside having a Diploma in Music. Crazy, some say...but that s just the paradox that is Ms. John.
O2Shepherd s Bush Empire (Grace Jones, The Police, U2, other acts featured at the venue, to name a few). Known a?ectionately as A.J. , this former Ms. Barbados Bikini and 1st runner-up Ms. Barbados has recently added entrepreneur to her CV. In July, 2010, she established her own company, Live Blue Entertainment, a local/regional music-talent booking and placement entity. The August 1st, 2013 launch of music and lifestyle website, ayanajohn.com, adds another element to the budding business ventures of this driven young woman. The site features newly
Now imagine that you have blended the pulsating recorded music available for sale, lifestyle tips and news updates rhythms and bass lines of Reggae and fused them with which are directly linked to the Ayana John brand. the hypnotic melodies of Soul vocals paired with a ?erce live act. You would have de?ned the ?rst steps in A.J. has a slew of surprises in store for loyal and potential fans who the evolution of this magnetic entertainer, emerging can expect a fresh, exhilarating and soul-bearing album for 2014. with her unique brand of Reggae/Soul featured on Pulling from Jazz, Blues and mainstream in?uences armed with her the massively successful self-titled debut LP in 2009 own blend of R&B/Pop, the new e?ort promises to be a re?ection which spawned a series of national and regional hits, of all that has been lived and learned Guns n Roses , Paper Chase , Caught Ya! , Pose featuring Bad Boy Recording Artiste, Elephant Man,
See Interview with Ayana John on page 39
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Volume 5: July - September 2013