| Jana Mashonee | |
| Birth Name: | Jana |
| Birth Date: | May 11, 1982[1] |
| Origin: | Robeson County, North Carolina, United States |
| Genre: | Pop, R&B, Electronic |
| Occupation: | Singer-songwriter, actress, author |
| Years Active: | 2000s–present |
| Label: | unsigned |
Jana Mashonee, (born Jana; May 11, 1982), better known by her stage name, Jana, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, author and philanthropist. She is originally from Robeson County, North Carolina. Jana is a two-time Grammy nominee and nine-time Nammy winner. Her music is steeped in R&B and gospel roots, which introduced her to the mainstream.
Jana was born May 11, 1982,[2] and is from Robeson County, North Carolina; although she grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jana is a member of the state-recognized Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and also identifies as being of Tuscarora descent.[3] She was first introduced to music by her father (who is a singer and drummer).[4] The surname Mashonee was a native name given to Jana by her family. It is Siouan and means "money belt.[5]
Mashonee graduated from Davidson College with a degree in psychology,[6] and shortly after got a record deal.[4] [7] First signed to Curb Records, her single, "Ooh, Baby, Baby," was picked as Billboard’s single of the week and went on to become a radio and sales success. "More Than Life" followed, selling over a million copies on its own and as part of numerous compilation albums. A controversial version of Led Zeppelin’s epic "Stairway to Heaven", came next, earning her the honor of being the first Native American to top the Billboard dance charts.[1]
Exploring her cultural roots, Mashonee released American Indian Story, a concept album that garnered her a second Grammy nomination. The video for the single, "The Enlightened Time", won awards at film festivals around the world as well as a Nammy for Best Short Form Music Video. Music from the album is featured on the Discovery Channel's series, Flying Wild Alaska.[8]
She recently completed her first book, American Indian Story – The Adventures of Sha’kona, based on the Grammy-nominated album of the same name. The fantasy filled mystery-adventure young adult novel features a young heroine, Sha’kona, and her journey of self-discovery and courage.
Mashonee continued to pay tribute to her heritage with American Indian Christmas, featuring ten classic Christmas songs sung in ten different Native American languages, and accompanied by a full orchestra and traditional Native American instruments. A critical and commercial success, the album won her another Nammy award. On December 16, 2011, she featured some of these songs in an emotional and intimate performance at Carnegie Hall in New York.[9]
With New Moon Born, she moved in a new direction, steeped in R&B and gospel roots; this brought her back to mainstream attention. She debuted the featured track, an cover of Sam Cooke's classic, "A Change Is Gonna Come", at the American Indian Inaugural Ball for President Obama. This was her second performance for a First Family. A year earlier she sang at the First Lady's luncheon for Laura Bush. The song won her an eighth Nammy for Song of the Year, and the video took the Best Music Video prizes at both the Indie Film and the American Indian Film festivals.[10]
Mashonee's tour schedule has taken her to forty nine of the fifty states, and overseas. Mashonee has also performed as an actress. In 2012, she starred in her first movie Raptor Ranch,[11] which debuted at the Israel Film Festival. In 2014, it was released on HD-DVD, Redbox, and to select streaming networks under the name The Dinosaur Experiment.
Her Jana’s Kids Foundation has been helping Native youth through its programs and scholarship offerings.[12] Mashonee was named 2011 Woman of the Year by "yearofthewoman2011.com" for her philanthropic work. She has also supported charities such as The Golden Hat Foundation for autism, founded by actor Kate Winslet.
Mashonee says about her own foundation, "I've been blessed to be able to travel across the country to many reservations to talk to youth and address issues of cultural identity and education. From this, I've been able to raise enough money to offer scholarships to deserving Native youth in the artistic, academic, and athletic fields..."[13]
She performed with Sarah McLachlan, and Loreena McKennitt among other stars to support this charity cause at Carnegie Hall in December 2012.[14]
Referring to herself as an "Urban Indian", Mashonee has said, "From a cultural perspective, I describe myself as an Urban Indian because I am a Native American person who "walks in both worlds" –an expression that refers to Natives who live their lives in the traditional and in the contemporary/modern worlds."[15]
Mashonee grew up in a Baptist church. She is a self-proclaimed Christian, stating she focuses more on exploring spirituality of the Creator than just rules written by men.[16] She currently resides in New York City.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Blue Gap Boy'z | Singing contestant | Cameo |
| 2013 | Raptor Ranch | Abbi Whitecloud | |
| 2021 | Fostering Dad | Mom | |
From January 2010 till June 2016, Jana Mashonee was also Creative Director on the Activation, Inc. in New York, NY.[18]