| Nyanda | |
| Birth Name: | Nyanda Janelle Thorbourne |
| Birth Date: | 15 April 1978 |
| Birth Place: | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Genre: | Reggae, dancehall, reggae fusion |
| Years Active: | 2004–present |
| Label: | Cat Music,[1] Tropic Electric, BlackLion Music, Pink Scorpion |
| Associated Acts: | Brick & Lace, The Kemist, Akon, Wisin & Yandel, Jennifer Lopez, Nicole Scherzinger, Arash, F.eU |
Nyanda Janelle Thorbourne, better known by her stage name/mononym Nyanda, is a Jamaican-American singer and songwriter from Kingston, Jamaica. Nyanda is a member of the R&B/reggae duo Brick & Lace whose debut album, Love Is Wicked, was released through Geffen / Kon Live in 2007 and featured the chart-topping single "Love Is Wicked".
In February 2013, Nyanda released her first promotional single, "Trouble",[2] after announcing that she would be pursuing a solo career in music.[3] Her first official single, "Slippery When Wet", was released in September 2013.
Nyanda Thorbourne was born to an African-American mother and a Jamaican father in Kingston, Jamaica.[4] She has 3 sisters, Tasha, Nailah and Candace Thorbourne.[5] Nyanda went to Campion College High School during which time her group Brick & Lace was formed. After graduating High School Nyanda studied Marketing at Miami Dade College and then Advertising & Theater at the University of Miami. The name "Nyanda" is a Swahili word which means "plains".
Nyanda's career in music started as a member of the pop/reggae group Brick & Lace. In 2006 Akon signed the group to Konvict Muzik[6] / Geffen Records and released their debut album, Love Is Wicked in 2007. The album spawned four charting singles – "Never Never", "Get That Clear", "Bad to di Bone" and their biggest hit, "Love Is Wicked", which was listed for 97 weeks in 7 different charts.[7]
February 2013 marked the launch of Nyanda's career as a solo artist with the release of her promotional single, "Trouble". Produced by Black Lion, "Trouble" is a remix of Taylor Swift's multi-platinum single "I Knew You Were Trouble" which fuses reggae, dancehall and pop music.[8] "Trouble" entered UK Music Week's Top 30 Urban Club Charts in Week 7 (2013)[9] and remained in the charts for 7 Weeks,[10] [11] peaking at No. 15.[12]
Nyanda's first official single, "Slippery When Wet", was initially released as a free download through SoundCloud on March 8, 2013.[13] "Slippery When Wet" entered UK Music Week's Urban Club Charts in Week 27 (2013)[14] and remained in the Top 30 for 5 weeks,[15] peaking at No. 13.[16] It was licensed and officially released later in the year by Cloud 9 (Benelux), Magic Records (Poland & Bulgaria) and Tropic Electric / InGrooves (Rest of the World). "Slippery When Wet" Won the Award for Best Reggae Song at the 2014 Lipstick Radio's Indie Music Awards.[17]
In August 2013, Nyanda released the electro fueled house track,[18] "Cool & Deadly"[19] with South African DJs Euphonik and Fresh. "Cool & Deadly" was considered a South African Summer Anthem in 2013[20] as it climbed to No. 28 on South Africa Airplay Charts and reached No. 1 on 5FM's Top 40. The music video for "Cool & Deadly"[21] was done documentary style, with all footage being taken from Split Seconds, a 5-part TV series on Channel O showcasing the fast-paced look at Fresh and Euphonik in Miami during 2013's Winter Music Conference.[22] [23]
In 2010, Nyanda and her sisters formed the songwriting team Bloodline. They have written songs for Kelly Rowland,[24] Christina Aguilera, Nicole Scherzinger, Leah LaBelle and Arash. In 2012, she co-wrote the gold-certified, chart topping single "Follow the Leader" by Wisin & Yandel featuring Jennifer Lopez.
In February 2014, Nyanda was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Reach a Hand Uganda.[25]
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Rodeo Wine" | Non-album singles |
| "Young & Alive" (with DJ LBR) | ||
| 2016 | "Keep Me Up All Night" (with Ripstar) | |
| 2015 | "The Way U Love" | |
| "All My Love" | ||
| "Put It on Me" | ||
| 2014 | "I Love Sax" (with Black Lion) | I Love Sax EP[26] |
| 2013 | "Slippery When Wet" | Slippery When Wet EP |
| "Cool & Deadly" (with Fresh and Euphonik as F.eU) | Cool & Deadly EP[27] | |
| "Trouble" | Promotional single |
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEL [28] | SPA [29] | ||||
| 2013 | "Your Ways" (Nyanda & GNL, Ray Signature, Irene Ntale, Big Tril, Maurice Hasa)[30] | — | — | ||
| 2013 | "You Got Me Good (Tu Es Ma Go)" (Muss feat. Nyanda)[31] | — | — | ||
| 2013 | "Je Dis Oui" (Barbara Kanam feat. Nyanda)[32] | — | — | ||
| 2013 | "Boom & Rave" (Black Lion feat. Mr. Vegas & Nyanda)[33] | — | — | Boom & Rave – EP | |
| 2013 | "Like a Pro" (The Wizard feat. Nyanda & Chedda) | — | — | Like a Pro – EP[34] | |
| 2014 | "Blazin" (ChildsPlay feat. the Kemist & Nyanda) | — | — | ||
| 2014 | "Mash It Up" (Black Lion & the Wizard feat. Kat Dahlia, Nyanda & the Kemist) | — | — | Black Lion Reggae Invasion Vol. 1 | |
| 2014 | "Run Away" (Ian Thomas featuring Nyanda) | 25 | 28 | Gametime | |
| 2015 | "Kikute" (Leila Kayondo feat. Nyanda) | — | — | rowspan="2" | |
| "Outta Control" (Admiral C4C feat. Nyanda) | — | — | |||
| 2016 | "Dancing Kizomba (The Kemist Remix)" (Alx Veliz feat. Nyanda) | — | — | Single only[35] | |
| "Touch Me" (Jessy Matador feat. Nyanda) | — | — | Non-album single[36] | ||
| "No Apologies (The Kemist Remix)" (JoJo feat. Wiz Khalifa & Nyanda) | — | — | Single only[37] | ||
| 2018 | "Wokie Wokie" (Mr. P feat. Nyanda) | – | – | Non-album single | |
| 2019 | "Like Ya" (Jul feat. Nyanda) | Rien100rien réédition | |||
| Year | Song | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "Cinnamon Roll" (feat. Dionne Renée)[38] | Black Lion Reggae Invasion Vol. 1 | |
| "One More Time" (with The Kemist)[39] | |||
| "Footprints" (feat. Assassin)[40] | |||
| 2014 | "I Won't Take You Back" | Xleration Riddim – Single[41] |
| Year | Song | Artist | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "Mine Tonight" | Burna Boy (feat. Nyanda) | On A Spaceship | ||
| "Dangerous" | Pachanga (feat. Nyanda) | La Era Positivo | |||
| 2014 | "Superman" | Arash (feat. Nyanda) | Superman | ||
| "Ma Bala" | |||||
| 2018 | "Wokie Wokie" | Mr P (feat. Nyanda) | Wokie Wokie Single |
| Year | Song | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "Club Saved My Life" | Wally Lopez featuring Brick & Lace and J Balvin | Follow Me![42] |
| "Shot Gun" | Brian Cross featuring Leah LaBelle | Pop Star – The Album[43] [44] | |
| 2012 | "Follow the Leader" | Wisin & Yandel featuring Jennifer Lopez | Líderes |
| "Around the World" | Christina Aguilera | Lotus | |
| "Grenade" | Vincenzo featuring Brick & Lace | La Matrice[45] | |
| 2011 | "Say Yes" | Nicole Scherzinger | Killer Love |
| "This Time" (Sidney Samson Remix) | Kizzo featuring Bloodline | [46] | |
| 2009 | "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" | A. R. Rahman and The Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger | Doll Domination |
| "Swat" | Brick & Lace | Birch – Military Riddim[47] | |
| 2007 | "Get That Clear (Hold Up)" | Love Is Wicked | |
| "Never Never" | |||
| "Don't Stop" | |||
| "Take Me Back" | |||
| "Why'd You Lie" | |||
| "Love is Wicked" | |||
| "Boyfriend" | |||
| "Push It Up" | |||
| "Buss A Shot" | |||
| "Mr. Officer" | |||
| "My Apple" | |||
| "U and Me" | |||
| 2006 | "Move Tonight" | Detrimental Riddim[48] | |
| "Nice 2 Meet U" | Frank n Dank featuring Brick & Lace | Nice 2 Meet U ('06 Version) 12"[49] | |
| 2005 | "Tonight" | Brick & Lace | Bionic Ras Riddim[50] |
| "Make Me Wanna Get Naughty" | Blink Riddim[51] |
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "All My Love"[52] | Alex Ceausu |
| "Put It On Me"[53] | Alex Ceausu | |
| 2014 | "Run Away"[54] | Peter Muls / Debbie Rowe |
| "Trouble"[55] | Eric Christian King | |
| "I Love Sax"[56] | Damian Fyffe | |
| "Mash It Up"[57] | The Governor | |
| "You Got Me Good"[58] | Muss | |
| "Your Ways"[59] | Dayo Atarodo | |
| 2013 | "Slippery When Wet"[60] | Muss |
| "Like A Pro"[61] | Igreco | |
| "Cool & Deadly" | — |