Aiyana-Lee cannot be put in a box. Combining elements of pop, R&Band soul with poignant, heartfelt lyrics about her lived experiences, she creates music that transcends genres. The singer-songwriterโs powerhouse vocals are captivating listeners, with her recent single โBedroomโ amassing more than 2.2 million streams on YouTube to date.
Aiyana-Lee grew up surrounded by music. Her mother, manager, and creative partner, Nicole Daciana Anderson, is a multiplatinum singer-songwriter (BLUE), her uncle was David Ruffin of The Temptations, and her grandfather was famed American soul singer Jimmy Ruffin. With such a rich musical history, it was inevitable she would follow in her famed familyโs footsteps. She began singing at age two, a charismatic toddler who would jump on stage any chance she got โ especially while joining her mother on tour.
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Most recently, she was discovered by legendary music producer LA Reid, who signed Aiyana-Lee to his entertainment company& record label, HITCO.
Now 20, Aiyana-Lee has honed her skills and sound to create a stunning debut album, Wednesdayโs Child, which draws on experiences from her own life. Aiyana-Leeโs music fuses contemporary pop elements with classic R&B and soul vibes. Her songs offer lessons about staying true to yourself, avoiding the superficial trappings of Hollywood, the perilsof abusive relationships, and prioritizing yourself and your dreams over romance.
โThese songs are the real story that come from everything Iโve been through,โ says Aiyana-Lee. โYou have to speak the truth and be authentic. Iโve always been hands-on with every part of it and every story weโre trying to tell. There always has to be a story. It has to be intentional and have a purpose and a message. Iโm not saying shit just to say it.โ
Over the years, Aiyana-Leeโs relationship with music has grown and evolved, ushering her through both dark and joyous times. โAs you grow up, your relationship with music changes,โ she said. โEspecially when youโre down or in a dark place, it resonates in a different way than when youโre happy. Music helped me through a lot ofdark shit.โ
Growing up in London, Aiyana-Lee was constantly bullied at school. โI was a chubby kid who was also very sassy and confident,โ she explained. โNot a lot of people like it when youโre confident and have a dream. I was singing in the playground and getting told off for it and bullied.โShe subsequently changed schools four times before being home-schooled, which allowed her to graduate high school early and focus full time on her musical aspirations.
When Aiyana-Lee was 15, she and her mother moved to Los Angeles so she could pursue her dream of being a singer. They struggled financially to make ends meet as the two poured everything into her career. โMy mom sacrificed everything,โ Aiyana-Lee said. โWe had to lose our house, we lived meagerly, eating canned foods together. Weโd makea good time ofwalking down the street and people watching, laughing when we didnโt even have a dime to our name. Thatโs what the song โRich Kidsโ is all about. Itโs my story, but I feel like Iโm speaking to people who still gothrough the same thing.โ
Meanwhile, โGangster of Loveโ is a soulful ballad with bite and a twist. โItโs about falling for someone but reminding them and yourself that you wonโt allow them to play you, no matter how hard you fall,โ Aiyana Lee said. โYou might just end up breaking their heart instead.โ
Aiyana-Lee knew she wanted to create community through her music. โI love expressing emotion, and being able to share it with so many people around the world. It helps you feel understood,โ she said. โItโs that feeling of โIโm not alone, even in a foreign country.โ Music to me is the face of what humanity is. Artists are mediums to translate emotion in its purest form, without judgment or criticism. You canโt define it or put it in a box; you create a safe space for everybody. Thatโs what I want to do as an artistโto create a safe space for everybody to feel understood.โ
Written during Covid-19 lockdown with ample time to reflect on her past and present, Wednesdayโs Child takes us through the journey of Aiyana-Leeโs unique and tumultuous climb to prominence. She hopes it will provide solace to others the way music has shepherded her through so much.
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