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If you saw a picture of this exotic, diminutive beauty with the caption, "Vocalist from Canton," you might be thinking, "Chinese?" Well, you'd be doubly wrong. The sultry singer was actually born to Filipino parents near the lovely burg of Canton, Ohio.
To continue setting the record straight, Aya is actually the stage name of Angelica (pronounced An-je-LEEK-uh) Y. Arejola. Since moving to Cincinnati in 1994 to attend Xavier University, she has graced a number of musical projects and is currently making a splash with her self-titled solo album.
Armed with a sensual, shimmering vibrato and seductive lyrical coos, she was a natural for her first collaboration, Adherence. Their smooth Electronica landed them in the 97Xposure Top 20 in 1997 and 1999, and in the latter contest Aya's other project, Far and Away, was also selected. A handful of shows with Adherence served to whet Aya's appetite for live performance.
Her next band certainly fulfilled this desire but wasn't really what you'd call a logical progression. The female-fronted, Experi-Metal outfit Barefoot Pimp's sound was more Lacuna Coil than Evanescence, and they actually predated the popularity of either when they debuted in 2000, winning a nationwide band contest as well as numerous other awards.
"Everybody didn't expect a little girl to be fronting such a heavy band," she recalls with a giggle. "People would tell me my voice was too soft and melodic for that kind of thing, but I thought it worked out perfectly."
Aya also teamed with BP bassist Travis Taylor on the song "60 Watt Moth," which is on her CD along with one from Adherence. Several more tracks feature Aya solo, writing, programming and singing. She traces her song-crafting abilities back to early practice with her father, a musician with a home studio.
"He would record all the tracks and I would sing," she recalls. "I wrote little kid tunes with my piano, but I thought it was really cool at the time."
The disc leads with three tracks that represent her most recent incarnation, a simmering ambient Pop sound that draws on the jazzy playing of her backing band. The membership has fluxed, but drummer Brian Williamson's groove has been a consistent component.
A '90s scene veteran and SCPA grad, Williamson brings both solid underpinnings and rhythmic variety to Aya's music. These cuts also feature local phenom Lucky Spaulding, who recorded them as well. Out of all of the facets she displays on the album, these come closest to her influences, most notably Sade and The Police.
Currently, she, Williamson and guitarist Jeremy Cotton are gearing up for a series of gigs as a trio, exploring more organic, groovy territory. As in her previous bands, Aya seems tailor made for the role of chanteuse, owing to the classic beauty of her voice. And while she could probably make a good run as a female Jazz singer (of which there aren't many gigging in the area), she has no intentions of being pigeonholed or stagnating.
"I want to merge the elements and do a jazzy, Trip Hop thing. I like the idea of doing this live Bossa Nova stuff, but I want to try implementing some electronics eventually," she claims, adding, "It's easy to do that in the studio, but it's harder doing the sequencing thing live."
Another feather in Aya's cap is that she was on the 2006 Grammy ballot for Record of the Year, Best New Artist and Best Pop Collaboration. This NARAS nod stemmed from an interest taken in her by Al Gomes, founder of A&R firm Big Noise (who represent Christina Aguilera, among others). The ease with which she got herself noticed is reflective of both her talent and irrepressible enthusiasm, but also a certain charming naiveté.
"She just cold-called him one night," Williamson relates with amazement. "I think she was hoping for a voice mail, but he picked up! She ended up talking to him and sending her stuff and he liked it."
Through networking on MySpace, some R&B and Rap artists have solicited her (the good kind of solicitation) asking for her to add vocals to their tracks, another avenue she's ready to explore. They certainly won't be the last to take notice of Ms. Arejola.
- -Ezra Waller, CityBeat - Locals Only: : Too Live Coo
If you saw a picture of this exotic, diminutive beauty with the caption, "Vocalist from Canton," you might be thinking, "Chinese?" Well, you'd be doubly wrong. The sultry singer was actually born to Filipino parents near the lovely burg of Canton, Ohio.
To continue setting the record straight, Aya is actually the stage name of Angelica (pronounced An-je-LEEK-uh) Y. Arejola. Since moving to Cincinnati in 1994 to attend Xavier University, she has graced a number of musical projects and is currently making a splash with her self-titled solo album.
Armed with a sensual, shimmering vibrato and seductive lyrical coos, she was a natural for her first collaboration, Adherence. Their smooth Electronica landed them in the 97Xposure Top 20 in 1997 and 1999, and in the latter contest Aya's other project, Far and Away, was also selected. A handful of shows with Adherence served to whet Aya's appetite for live performance.
Her next band certainly fulfilled this desire but wasn't really what you'd call a logical progression. The female-fronted, Experi-Metal outfit Barefoot Pimp's sound was more Lacuna Coil than Evanescence, and they actually predated the popularity of either when they debuted in 2000, winning a nationwide band contest as well as numerous other awards.
"Everybody didn't expect a little girl to be fronting such a heavy band," she recalls with a giggle. "People would tell me my voice was too soft and melodic for that kind of thing, but I thought it worked out perfectly."
Aya also teamed with BP bassist Travis Taylor on the song "60 Watt Moth," which is on her CD along with one from Adherence. Several more tracks feature Aya solo, writing, programming and singing. She traces her song-crafting abilities back to early practice with her father, a musician with a home studio.
"He would record all the tracks and I would sing," she recalls. "I wrote little kid tunes with my piano, but I thought it was really cool at the time."
The disc leads with three tracks that represent her most recent incarnation, a simmering ambient Pop sound that draws on the jazzy playing of her backing band. The membership has fluxed, but drummer Brian Williamson's groove has been a consistent component.
A '90s scene veteran and SCPA grad, Williamson brings both solid underpinnings and rhythmic variety to Aya's music. These cuts also feature local phenom Lucky Spaulding, who recorded them as well. Out of all of the facets she displays on the album, these come closest to her influences, most notably Sade and The Police.
Currently, she, Williamson and guitarist Jeremy Cotton are gearing up for a series of gigs as a trio, exploring more organic, groovy territory. As in her previous bands, Aya seems tailor made for the role of chanteuse, owing to the classic beauty of her voice. And while she could probably make a good run as a female Jazz singer (of which there aren't many gigging in the area), she has no intentions of being pigeonholed or stagnating.
"I want to merge the elements and do a jazzy, Trip Hop thing. I like the idea of doing this live Bossa Nova stuff, but I want to try implementing some electronics eventually," she claims, adding, "It's easy to do that in the studio, but it's harder doing the sequencing thing live."
Another feather in Aya's cap is that she was on the 2006 Grammy ballot for Record of the Year, Best New Artist and Best Pop Collaboration. This NARAS nod stemmed from an interest taken in her by Al Gomes, founder of A&R firm Big Noise (who represent Christina Aguilera, among others). The ease with which she got herself noticed is reflective of both her talent and irrepressible enthusiasm, but also a certain charming naiveté.
"She just cold-called him one night," Williamson relates with amazement. "I think she was hoping for a voice mail, but he picked up! She ended up talking to him and sending her stuff and he liked it."
Through networking on MySpace, some R&B and Rap artists have solicited her (the good kind of solicitation) asking for her to add vocals to their tracks, another avenue she's ready to explore. They certainly won't be the last to take notice of Ms. Arejola.
- -Ezra Waller, CityBeat - Locals Only: : Too Live Coo
Quote on the song "Without You"
"Tango-soul with a splash of Salsa Nice accented groove with an innocent vibe lead vocal..a little Erika B., a little Macy G... Has a modern love tango feel witha splash of Salsa... Nice drum work and intimate mix makes for a mood pleaser... the arrangement holds up nice with tasty guitar lick throughout... not over done nor compromised..."
Reviewed by: ca_million from Atlanta, Georgia
Quote on song "Stay"
"Sure, I'll stay...Nice vibrato vocally. Smokey vocal stylings. Sort of hard to follow the lyrical lines- not listening hard enough, maybe, or maybe your voice is so nice, my brain doesn't feel the need to process the meanings- with this voice you could probably sing a grocery list and pull it off without too much effort. The melody was a well planned meanderfest. I dig the synth bass solo also."
Reviewed by: Johnny_K from Fairbanks, Alaska
Quote on song "Without You"
"Nice...This song reminds me of Erika Badu...who I absolutely adore...so I automatically like the song. And it stands out on its on merit...the simple live band sound of the production...the well written lyrics...and the subtle yet powerful vocal performance. Good job..."
Reviewed by: dramati2ue from Toledo, Ohio
Quote on the song "Come to Me"
"Good voice - this girl has a powerful voice. I really like the vocals! This is something I can see myself listening to when sitting in a lounge drinking. I also like the the music changes some in the middle.. Makes all the difference"
Reviewed by: Jenzione from Gothenburg, Sweden
- www.garageband.com
Quote on the song "Without You"
"Tango-soul with a splash of Salsa Nice accented groove with an innocent vibe lead vocal..a little Erika B., a little Macy G... Has a modern love tango feel witha splash of Salsa... Nice drum work and intimate mix makes for a mood pleaser... the arrangement holds up nice with tasty guitar lick throughout... not over done nor compromised..."
Reviewed by: ca_million from Atlanta, Georgia
Quote on song "Stay"
"Sure, I'll stay...Nice vibrato vocally. Smokey vocal stylings. Sort of hard to follow the lyrical lines- not listening hard enough, maybe, or maybe your voice is so nice, my brain doesn't feel the need to process the meanings- with this voice you could probably sing a grocery list and pull it off without too much effort. The melody was a well planned meanderfest. I dig the synth bass solo also."
Reviewed by: Johnny_K from Fairbanks, Alaska
Quote on song "Without You"
"Nice...This song reminds me of Erika Badu...who I absolutely adore...so I automatically like the song. And it stands out on its on merit...the simple live band sound of the production...the well written lyrics...and the subtle yet powerful vocal performance. Good job..."
Reviewed by: dramati2ue from Toledo, Ohio
Quote on the song "Come to Me"
"Good voice - this girl has a powerful voice. I really like the vocals! This is something I can see myself listening to when sitting in a lounge drinking. I also like the the music changes some in the middle.. Makes all the difference"
Reviewed by: Jenzione from Gothenburg, Sweden
- www.garageband.com
Discography
Never Thought
Without You
I Can't
Cherries
Stay
Captured Me
One With the Sea
Like a Dove
Undressed
Castle
60 Watt Moth
Photos
Bio
Aya is like a gentle wave that came into vision creating a smooth mixture of R&B, jazz, world, bossa nova, & a spice of electronica. Aya is fronted & created by the smooth, sultry vocals of Angelica Y. Arejola, formerly of the ambient pop electronic trio Adherence & the heavy experimental band Barefoot Pimp. Perhaps it was kismet that she stumbled upon remarkably talented musicians of the Cincinnati scene to help fulfill this seductive vision on her first solo mission, playing in local clubs throughout the Cincy area. Angelica, a.k.a. Aya was very fortunate to have numerous key players guest appear on her very first debut album. In August 2005, she wrapped up her first album with one of Cincinnati's finest musicians Lucky Spaulding www.myspace.com/luckyspaulding in his very own studio, Studio Be. As well as producing the Aya debut CD, Lucky lends his talents on guitars, bass, keyboards & back-ups, on the reggae-inspired love song entitled "Never Thought," with Brian Williamson on drums/percussion and lead guitars. Aya also features the smooth emotive guitar sounds of Andy Hopkins, who again contributes his magic on the sax & bass. Also on her debut CD is a track entitled "Castle" which is a collaboration with the band Adherence (Matthew Hatch & Paul Erickson.) This song was featured in the 1999 WOXY 97X Top Twenty Compilation CD. In October of 2005, The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Committee placed the self-titled CD Aya on the official ballot of the 2006 Grammy Awards in 3 Categories: Record of the Year, Best New Artist, & Best Pop Collaboration. At the moment you can catch her playing with the very hypnotic jazz guitarist Jeremy Cotton at various clubs in Cincinnati & collaborating with other artists.
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