Pronounced NAHN-yah-nah, she was born an Army brat in Landsthul, Germany to a jolly Tennessee country mountain boy and strong, beautiful Thai mother. Settling in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, her first band was a girl group trio, where eleven year old Nanyana first began composing songs. By the age of fifteen she taught herself to play guitar. At a young age, Nanyana displayed diverse musical interests. She locked herself in her room and jammed out to multiple varieties of rock and metal, dreaming of the chance duet with Chris Cornell, her biggest male influence. She also favored Jay Kay from Jamiroquai, who freed her funkier side. She vibed to rock icons like Pantera, Stone Temple Pilots, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, as well as having Jazz & R & B influences from Sade, Sarah Vaughn and Erykah Badu. In 2001, some friends and fellow music aficionados, asked her to audition for a project they were working on and shortly after formed a band named after her. Her energetic, captivating stage presence soon developed and they produced one self-titled album before parting in 2004. Realizing her individual artistic character had significantly developed during that time, Nanyana focused on her songwriting skills and began performing as a solo artist in the Southeast with original material, composed from the heart. Life’s ever-changing paths and emotions inspire her compositions and with that new material came a broader, more dedicated fan base. After diligently working on her first solo debut, Nanyana releases My Rock Your World this fall.
Exotic as a Thai princess and as spirited as a gypsy, Nanyana’s voice is rich and soothing, yet powerful and energetic, the perfect compliment to her diverse catalog of music. Don’t miss the chance to see one of Atlanta’s best, Nanyana.
Read more...