Oya - Spirit of Oya

Singer/songwriter Oya's debut album The Spirit of Oya showcases her versatility as a vocalist and emotional fearlessness as an artist. This fusion project is the musical depiction of her soul's delicious journey, filled with life, love, inspiration and light. Oya's accomplished voice effortlessly navigates a wide range of tracks -- from gentle, lyrical ballads, to playfully improvisational jazz numbers and uplifting, powerful Gospel-inspired tunes -- that celebrate her influences and paint a vivid picture of her colorful life experiences. Also enlisting the talents of seasoned studio musicians Ryan Cross (Alicia Keys, Rhianna, John Legend), Brandon Coleman (Anthony Hamilton, Babyface) and Kenneth Crouch (Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Lenny Kravitz), Oya explores her authentic self through a mixture of her favorite genres in this diverse collection. She dances through her bluesy, upbeat rocker "Too Blessed to Be Stressed," a tune that borrows elements from old school jazz and exposes her soft, inspirational side with tunes like "Hold on Be Strong" and "Pledge to Love You." She breathes new life into a spiritual favorite and shows her Gospel foundation with "Peace in the Valley" and pays tribute to Sam Cooke and her deep soul roots with a powerful rendition of "A Change is Gonna Come." The first single -- the groovy original "LOVE" -- shows her seasoned abilities as a songwriter capable of transcending styles, as it mixes together ingredients from R&B, Pop and Reggae into a flavorful treat. Get ready to savor The Spirit of Oya!