San Francisco-based music phenom Nya Jade announces today the launch of the Nurturing Young Africa (NYA) Foundation, created to support the welfare of African children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and other circumstances.
Nya’s fundraising efforts for her foundation include a new jewelry collection designed in collaboration by Nya and the modern, sculptural jewelry design company RedStart Design.
Riding on the success of her recent song and music video release Live, Nya Jade aims to use her reputation in the music industry to increase awareness of disadvantaged children in Africa and to inspire her fans to reach out to them.
Through Live and the other songs on her debut album, My Denial, Nya Jade uses a witty and intuitive lyrical voice to comment on society and it’s ideals of contentedness. The newly released Live music video encourages listeners to “live for the moment” as it shows a young boy going through the motions of a corporate existence. As the video ends we learn the young protagonist is actually a grown man who fancies himself a little boy. Nya’s message explores the restrictions our civilized society places on individuals. Live is currently in rotation on VH1-Soul and BETJ.
But Nya Jade was pushing the envelope from the beginning. Early in her career, Jade was discouraged because the music industry seemed more a platform for self-marketing than self-expression. She founded her own record label, Katako Records, with the support of former Atlantic Records President Ron Shapiro to maintain her independent artist status as she launched her first album. In 2006 Nya Jade released her debut album My Denial, which almost instantly earned its place on VH1.com’s top 20 albums.
For further information on Nya Jade and the NYA Foundation visit nyajade.com and myspace.com. Jade’s new video Live can be viewed on her Web page.
‘Live’ video stream:
redmusic.com
Nya Jade
My Denial - In Stores Now
Katako Records
nyajade.com
myspace.com
About Nya Jade:
San Francisco-based singer/songwriter Nya Jade has already drawn acclaim throughout the Bay Area for her unique music, a bold blend of sounds utterly unbound by genre, unified by Nya’s passionate, perceptive vocals. As an entrepreneur, Nya is also at the helm of the new “do-it-yourself” movement in music and major national critics are taking notice. Born in the West African country of Ghana and raised around the world, this Stanford educated artist created her own record label to do music her way. The duality of working as both artist and record label head has made her an exciting person to watch in the ever changing landscape of the music industry.
A pre-med student until a life changing car-accident, Nya channelled pain and suffering into a determination to follow a dream. Graduating from Stanford with both a bachelors in Economics and a masters in Sociology Nya did a brief stint in the big corporate world. Still passionate about music, Nya secured funding from a Silicon Valley Venture Capitalist to create her record label Katako Records. With her label in place, Nya set her eyes on A-List manager Ron Shapiro, former President of Atlantic Records and industry innovator. Armed with great management and her own label, Nya released her debut album, My Denial.
Cruising effortlessly through irresistible ballads, buoyant rock, and soulful pop symphonies, Nya’s debut album “My Denial” stands as a potent introduction to a resourceful and gifted young artist. My Denial landed on Vh1.com’s Top 20 Album’s list and continues to receive industry accolades. Nya has opened for artist such as Dave Matthews and Maroon 5.
What People Are Saying:
“Young female troubadour worth keeping your eyes and ears on…” USA Today
“Soulful, Emotional music” John Schafer, NPR
“[Nya’s] cool singing voice recalls Sade…..the latest voice of multicultural bohemian self-empowerment.” LA Times
“Superb New Songstress!” **VH1.com **
(courtesy of ThinkTank Marketing)
