Wayna

Artist Information

Biography

It has been said that Ethiopian-born, singer/songwriter Wayna posses a voice that is as sweet and pure as it is honest and passionate. This young talent's love for music started as a child, when she starred in theater productions like "Annie," and "Damn Yankees" and toured with a children's musical review company. Wayna went on to hone her vocal talents as a young adult by absorbing the works of her favorite artists, including Minnie Riperton, Billie Holiday, Stevie Wonder, and Donny Hathaway.

While in college, Wayna was crowned Miss Black Unity of the University of Maryland in 1995, earning a one year tuision scholarship and special honors for "Best Talent" and "Best Response to Question" at the 17th annual pageant. The following year, she founded a gospel quartet and performed with the group at the World Famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY, where they placed as finalists in the Amateur Night competition. She traveled with the critically acclaimed University of Maryland Gospel Choir and regularly performed at churches and gospel showcases throughout the East coast.

After earning a Bachelor's degree with a double major in English and Speech Communication from the University of Maryland, Wayna began her professional career as a Writer in the White House for the Clinton administration. But soon, the pull to realize her dream as a recording artist would prove too great. She left to concentrate on her music full-time. Since then, Wayna has collaborated with legendary studio icon/producer Bill Laswell, with critically and comercially hailed producer Eran Tabib, Jive Records producer, Veit Renn, and former Touch of Jazz standout, Kev Brown. She is a featured vocalist/co-writer on on the Sly and Robbie album, Version Born released by Palm Pictures and also featuring contributions from Killah Priest, Black Thought, and N'dea Davenport. She's also served as a featured vocalist and writer on a number of independent projects for artists, including W. Ellington Felton, Kenn Starr, Kev Brown, Cy Young, and Tamara Wellons.

Wayna has recently opened for a number of internationally recognized artists on the DC leg of their respective tours, including Fantasia, Amerie, Common, Bobby Valentino, Jaguar Wright, Kindred, and Chuck Brown. She's performed and headlined at renown venues such as the White House (DC), the Temple Bar (CA), the Apollo Theater (NY), the Lincoln Theater (DC), Joe's Pub (NY), Dream Nightclub (DC), the Black Cat (DC), the 9:30 club (DC), Bohemian Caverns (DC), Takoma Station (DC), the Ashford and Simpson Sugar Bar (NY), and the George Dome (GA).

Instrumentation

Wayna - vocalist

(back up band)

Contact:
jjghatt@yahoo.com (publicist)

Discography

Moments of Clarity, Book 1 - Quiet Power Productions 2004

Version Born, Sly & Robbie, Palm Pictures 2002

I Do What I Do, Kev Brown, Up Above Records 2005

Blutopia, W. Ellington Felton 2001

Postcards from the Edge, W. Ellington Felton 2006

Now or Never, Cy Young 2006

________________________________________
"Past Future Eternal" has debuted and is on the playlist of DC's #1 Radio Station WPGC 95.5 FM.

"Straight Up" has debuted and is on the playlist of Howard University's WHUR 96.3 FM.

"So Long Heartache" has been added and will soon debut on Radio One's WKYS 93.9 FM.

Moments of Clairity: Book 1, released November 2004 under the indie imprint Quiet Power Productions

The track "So Long Heartache" from that album has just been added to the playlist of RadioOne Urban Station 93.9 WKYS in the Washington, DC market and has been on Pacifica Radio's 89.3 Jazz Overnights.

The tracks, "Rose Colored Glasses" and "Secret Identity" have been in the top 10 of Sirius Satellite and Internet Radio station and URSCENE-FM's charts, beating out mainstream artists such as Raheem DeVaughn and Ziggy Marley.

Wayna is a featured vocalist and co-writer on the Sly and Robbie album "Version Born" on Palm Pictures label, joining the duo on the "Perspective" track. The album was produced by Bill Laswell and featured contributions by Killah Priest, Black Thought and N'dea Davenport.


Wayna is a featured background vocalist on the Rich Harrison produced track "One Thing" from Amerie released January 2005.

Audio

Lyrics

• Secret Identity
• So Long Heartache
• Straight Up

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• What Others Are Saying About Wayna
  

  "Her voice reminds me of Syreeta's...She's incredible" --Stevie Wonder

• What’s not to like in a fierce woman singing about her batmobile and her superhuman abilities, and scatting this well on top of it, a rich cello laying down a thick bass line bed for her insightful lyrics? [+ Show ]
  

  Kevan Breitinger writes... "I don’t know what it is about Wayna Wondwossen, but she leads me to all...Kevan Breitinger writes...
  "I don’t know what it is about Wayna Wondwossen, but she leads me to alliterate. After hearing her heartfelt harmonies, listening to these lucid lyrics, any woman must wail out in wonder, Hail to this powerful Poet, this Prophetess of Positivity. And believe me when I tell you, I fought the feeling. But the girl is good....
  
  Read the Rest at:
  http://www.indie-music.com/
  modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=3692
  

• she is simply put...poised, prepared, and deserving of major success. [+ Show ]
  

  By Gian Fiero With stellar songwriting, engaging lyrics, and magnetic vocals, "Moments of clarity"...By Gian Fiero
  With stellar songwriting, engaging lyrics, and magnetic vocals, "Moments of clarity" can easily be re-dubbed "Moments of Greatness," and there are plenty of those moments on this project.
  
  READ MORE HERE
  http://www.musesmuse.com/
  columnistsgreylogs/archives/00000831.html

• She's a mix of Billie Holiday, E. Badu, Joss Stone, Tiombre Lockhart....yeah, all of that. She's a refreshing alternative to an ever so diluted music industry. [+ Show ]
  

  FINALLY we're getting some good music coming down the pipe. READ THE REST AT: www.digital-djs.co...FINALLY we're getting some good music coming down the pipe.
  
  READ THE REST AT:
  www.digital-djs.com/news/reviews.asp?threadid=7037

• Wayna's 12 tracks album will leave you looking to settle down on a Paradise Island almost instantly from hearing the first track. [+ Show ]
  

  Calling all Neo Fans that are looking for a sistah lady with a sound to deliver "Moments Of Clarity"...Calling all Neo Fans that are looking for a sistah lady with a sound to deliver "Moments Of Clarity" look no further than this for now! Wayna's 12 tracks album will leave you looking to settle down on a Paradise Island almost instantly from hearing the first track. As we have reported before here @ Nu Flava Online that, in this genre, they are at their very best even while at this independent level. The quality of this project is so real and, it's like Wayna herself knows where her audience has been or is willing to go. Just a quick reminder, when next your introducing any of your peeps to this genre, instead of using example artists Jill Scott, Vivian Green, Erykah Badu just use the name Wayna Wondwossen and that will keep their mind still!!! "Moments Of Clarity" is a ground breaking release that is sure to encourange, equip, strengthen and rebuild the uncompleted.
  
  Our favourite track(s): All
  Listening Rate:10/10
  Vocalz: 9/10
  Production: 9/10
  
  Check it out at: http://nuflavamag.8m.com/jizneosoul2.html

• Clearly there are a lot more than just mere moments of quality on this album. [+ Show ]
  

  Wayna Wondwossen may not be a name that most of us are familiar with, but on the strength of “Moment...Wayna Wondwossen may not be a name that most of us are familiar with, but on the strength of “Moments Of Clarity Book 1”, it won’t be long until it’s being mentioned in all of the places where quality soul is the only topic of conversation. This native of Virginia (via Ethiopia), will find that she draws comparisons to the likes of Jill Scott, Angie Stone and when she delivers the more mainstream RnB, she does it with the class & poise of Mary J. Big names, but deservedly so for what is undoubtedly a big talent. Having written all but a few of the 12 tracks, supplied lead & background vocals and is Executive Producer on the project, it’s safe to say that any plaudits due need to be delivered to Wayna directly.
  
  Read the rest at (http://www.funkjunkiez.biz/
  modules.php?name=
  Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=63)

• The vocals, the production and the lyrics all came together perfectly and made this one that I couldn't wait to share. [+ Show ]
  

  [This] CD pretty much knocked me out when I first heard it. The vocals, the production and the lyric...[This] CD pretty much knocked me out when I first heard it. The vocals, the production and the lyrics all came together perfectly and made this one that I couldn't wait to share...
  I try not make comparisons with other artists but I can't help myself. When I first heard her I immediately thought of Erykah Badu and Vivian Green. She lists her musical influences as Minnie Riperton, Billie Holiday, Curtis Mayfield and Donny Hathaway.
  
  Read more at www.honeysoul.com

Setlist

(Mainly Originals and a couple of covers)

Desperation Days
Straight Up
Mama's Sacrifice
Secret Identity
Slums of Paradise
Minnie Riperton's Reasons
Mr. Duracell
So Long Heartache
Unspeakable Blues
Redemption Song
Loving You
Dr. Feelgood

Basic Requirements

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