ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Äyanna
Ayanna's artistic odyssey began in her childhood, shaped by her family's diverse musical tastes spanning R&B, pop, and gospel. Her distinctive sound effortlessly merges these genres, guided by her soulful voice and the mood of each track. In her debut EP, "In A Perfect World," she delves into personal experiences and her idealistic vision, celebrating the diverse voices of black female artists in the UK. "Girlfriend's" music video captures the excitement of a new crush through performance and dance. Joining LVRN, home to luminaries like 6LACK and Summer Walker, marks a significant milestone. Ayanna envisions her music evolving across various styles, from timeless ballads to infectious club tracks, with a penchant for soundtrack work. The future holds exciting possibilities as she embraces each step of her journey.
Can you tell us about your journey as an artist and how you discovered your unique sound?
My journey as an artist started off when I was 4 years old, and I have a background in performing arts and theatre. I feel like my sound is still evolving, but a lot of my influences stem from the music I listened to as a child. My brother listened to a lot of gospel and Rnb, and my dad listened to a lot of 70s, 80s and 90s pop like Michael Jackson, air supply, Barbara Streisand and Toto.
Your music draws from various genres such as R&B, pop, soul, and reggae. How do you combine these influences to create your own distinct style?
I don’t think about genre too much when I’m creating. The way my influences manifest in my music vary from song to song. Because I have a soulful voice the ‘Rnb’ aspect is really tangible in the way I sing. I riff, I belt, harmonise, these are things that are unique to Rnb that I do regardless of the instrumentation I’m singing with. In terms of production, sometimes the subject matter influences the kind of sounds we use. If it’s up-tempo, there might be more pop or reggae sounds. If it’s slow, it might have soul or alternative sounds. But I don’t overthink that much at all.
What inspired the creation of your debut EP, "In A Perfect World," and how does it challenge the narrative around black female artists in the UK?
The EP was inspired by my experiences, my imagination and my love for movies, visuals, performance and storytelling. The underlining idealism is my favourite part because that’s what makes me who I am. I am a very optimistic person. I always think things can be better. The title of the EP was pulled from my song Say you Love Me and I just think it’s so apt. There are so many talented black female artists in the UK telling their stories, depicting their experiences through music and I feel proud to be a part of that.
Your single "Girlfriend" features a captivating video that showcases a black female protagonist in her own love story. Can you tell us about the concept behind the video and the message you aimed to convey?
The story of Girlfriend is really girly and flirty which I love. It’s a lover girl anthem that explores the familiar feeling of having a crush with whom things are new and ambiguous. The video was inspired by so many different things but it all came down to my love for performance, dance and theatre. Priya listened really intently to me when I told her everything I saw this visual being, and she elevated it so beautifully.
As a signee for LVRN, joining the ranks of renowned artists like 6LACK and Summer Walker, how does it feel to be part of such a groundbreaking collective, and how do you think it will impact your music career?
I feel really honoured to be associated with these very talented artists. Of course it’s very encouraging to know that the people who saw the talent in them see talent in me also. Also I can already tell that because I am signed to LVRN people are more interested in what I have coming, and I appreciate the air time. Working with LVRN who to me are pioneers of the culture will be really inspiring and educational for me.
You had a memorable performance at the European MTV Awards alongside Spinall and Nasty C. Can you share your experience and how it felt to perform on such a prestigious stage?
I have never been on a stage that big, so the scale of the performance was definitely new to me. However because I did a lot of performances when I was younger, at the O2 for example, it did feel a little familiar to me. Once I got over some of the new things like wearing the in-ears, the size of the performance space, all the moving parts like the skaters and cameras, I felt comfortable again. Spinall was especially supportive in making sure I was ok through soundcheck and I really appreciate him for that. It was only after I had completed the performance that I could really acknowledge that I had done something so surreal and amazing. At the moment, I am new to the industry so I really didn't take that opportunity for granted. I was just so honoured and grateful.
In your music, you explore themes of identity and building your perfect world. How do you incorporate these themes into your lyrics and visuals?
My lyrics and visuals all tell a story. Mentally I’m always in a place of imagination, dreaming things up, and I’m a strong believer in manifestation. I’m always reaching for what feels fitting, and ideal. Whenever I’m writing I’m talking about my experiences through this lens. Anything that feels ‘perfect’ be it a phrase perfectly encompassing my feeling or the perfect colour, reference, outfit, I use and incorporate into my art.
The Pit London has described you as one of music's biggest breakouts. How do you handle the growing expectations and buzz surrounding your career?
Wow thank you. I’m deeply flattered and grateful that people recognise my work and talent. It’s sometimes overwhelming to think about because it feels like the expectation is really high! But my remedy for that is to stay still and focused in my art and what I’m here to do. I know once I do that, everything will follow naturally.
Can you give us a sneak peek into what we can expect from your upcoming debut EP, both sonically and visually?
I like to say that the ep is the sound of love past present and future! The visuals are dreamy, whimsical, cuii and playful. I really hope the people enjoy :)
How do you see your music evolving in the future, and are there any collaborations or dream projects you aspire to pursue?
I can see my sound going through many different stages, it’s hard to list them all. I want huge timeless ballads, club songs, contemporary, alternative, really creative stuff. I can’t wait. I’d love to be a part of soundtracks also, and I act too. There are so many exciting things I want to do, I have no choice but to take it one day at a time.