Rhian Ayanna

Rhian Ayanna, the neo-soul vocalist born in New York City and raised in Trinidad, seeks to bridge the domains of artistry and private experience. Her formal preparation occurred at the University of Northern Colorado under the guidance of Sarah Dash and the internationally recognized opera star Diane Bolden-Taylor, yielding fluency in both Western European classical traditions and American musical theater. Early immersion in gospel, jazz, and Caribbean repertoire instilled an expressive foundation anchored in the Afro-American experience. Ahead of her solo path she contributed vocals to the Grammy-nominated RH Factor release Strength and supplied backing for Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets. Performance craft was sharpened at New York City’s Blue Note club, where new material and arrangements were refined before N.Y.C. soul audiences. The self-titled debut appeared independently in 2007 and received a prompt reissue, complete with bonus tracks, from the P-Vine label. Broadcast exposure followed, notably a duet with L.A. mega-producer David Foster on NBC’s Star Tomorrow. Sustained acclaim across U.S. jazz and soul outlets soon marked the record as the work of an artist worth following.