singer/songwriter Wayna (@waynamusic)

Ethiopian-born,  singer/songwriter Wayna possesses 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 tuition 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 Georgia Dome (GA).    For more info: http://www.indiereviewcd.com https://twitter.com/IndieRevue https://www.instagram.com/indie.review https://www.facebook.com/indie.review