Ethiopian born DC raised Wayna Wondwossen is a singer/songwriter taking the Indie music world by storm. She released her debut album Moments of Clarity - Book 1 in 2004 and received critical acclaim from major publications Billboard and Essence magazine. She went on to open for a number of internationally recognized artists on the DC leg of their respective tours including Fantasia, Amerie, Common, Bobby Valentino, Jaguar Wright, Kindred, and Chuck Brown. She’s performed and headlined at renowned venues such as the White House (DC), the Temple Bar (CA), the Apollo Theater (NY), the Lincoln Theater (DC), Joe’s Pub (NY), Dream Nightclub (DC), the Black Cat (DC), the 9:30 club (DC), Bohemian Caverns (DC), Takoma Station (DC), the Ashford and Simpson Sugar Bar (NY), and the George Dome (GA).

Wayna was crowned Miss Black Unity of the University of Maryland in 1995. She earned a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in English and Speech Communication from the University of Maryland. She soon after began her professional career as a Writer in the White House for the Clinton administration. Her love for music and performing stayed with her and she finally decided to pursue her dream full time. Moments of Clarity - Book 1 was the result of this decision.

What is equally impressive is that Wayna formed a company, Quiet Power Productions and produced and promoted the album on her own. Wayna became a business woman overnight and the results have been fruitful. Wayna is putting finishing touches on her follow up album, Moments of Clarity – Book 2 and recently returned from performing in Adis Ababa. I spoke with Wayna and her company name Quiet Power described her perfectly. She has had amazing success and has met some pretty big names in her short career but Wayna remains humble and wears her African crown with pride. We caught up like old girlfriends and talked about her music and being the child of two cultures. She reminded me of how growing up in the 80’s when most of the images of Ethiopia were negative was not easy and how life has been for her as a recording artist.

Jamati: Can you describe your music and sound for people who have never heard your music?

Wayna: I would describe my music as a blend of R&B, soul, and jazz. Lyrically, it is a personal look into the various life lessons I’ve learned over the years. I think that anyone who appreciates sincerity in music will appreciate the stories in these songs and hopefully relate.

Jamati: You were recently back home in Ethiopia and performed some shows. How was that experience and was this the first time you’ve been back home as a recording artist?

Wayna: Yes, it was my first time as an official artist, which was a real reward for me. I played a number of venues around Addis Ababa and met so many incredible people from all walks of life. Just driving around town was an education in itself, its amazing what a stranger’s face can communicate. I think what I took away from the experience most, was that in a place where people are grappling with real problems, music is an escape, and it was a real reminder to me of my responsibility as an artist to not only share my story and tell those that otherwise wouldn’t be heard, but to also give people a soundtrack to just celebrate life. I used to think that was shallow, but I see the importance in it now.

Jamati: Stevie Wonder said that your voice reminds him of Syreeta’s and that you’re incredible. First, WOW! And second, how did you meet the Stevie Wonder?

Wayna: It was really one of my happiest moments as an artist. We were playing the Temple Bar in California, and one of the other artist’s on the bill was Ayanna Gregory, daughter of activist Dick Gregory, who is a long time friend of Stevie’s. We knew there was a chance he might come to the show, luckily though, I didn’t see him come in, otherwise I might have forgotten my whole set:) So, afterwards, this huge man comes up to me and says ‘Stevie would like to talk with you.’ Now, this is how I know God is real, because I was unreasonably calm and composed. We chatted about music and my heritage, he greeted me in Amharic, and asked me to keep in touch with him and to send him music, which I did, and we’ve remained friends. He interviewed me and Ayanna for his radio program during a recent visit to DC this past spring, and we will hopefully work together when he launches his label. But in general, being in his presence has been reward enough. He’s an incredibly generous spirit and a really evolved human being. Its no wonder, he’s made such an impact with his life.

Jamati: In DC you’ve opened for some pretty big names in the music industry such as Fatasia, Amerie, and Common. How did the crowd respond? Do you have a favorite date?

Wayna: Thankfully, the crowds have been really good to me. DC audiences, in particular, are really demanding, which is great for those of us who are based here, because we’re forced to become polished performers. My favorite show, by far, was opening for Common at Dream, now Love nightclub. At first I was concerned, because it was a straight hip hop show, and I feared that they might not be open to a singer, but I brought my DJ and producer extraordinaire RoddyRod, and my colleagues, W. Ellington Felton and Cy Young, and by the time we did a version of Minnie Riperton’s Lovin You over a beat box, all hands were in the air. It is one of those nights I give myself permission to re-live every now and then. And meeting Common and De La Soul was pretty amazing too. They all had good things to say about my set, which was the cherry on top.

Jamati: You took the indie world by storm when you released Moments of Clarity Book 1. You were reviewed and given amazing reviews by Billboard magazine and Essence Magazine. You even won two awards from Musesmuse.com for Best R&B single and Best R&B album. As an African woman I must say that I am so proud of you because all of this came from your own label/company Quiet Power Productions (love the name by the way). Can you briefly speak on the music industry as a business?

Wayna: I think every music executive has their idea of what they think will sell, and the more money the industry looses (and it has consistently in recent years), the less they’re willing to take chances on new material, so as a result, there are fewer and fewer opportunities for artists. But the good news is that people are really aching for substantive art, and if musicians are willing to stretch themselves beyond being creative people to also be producers and promoters and booking agents and all of the other job titles associated with promoting a product, they can do what they love and make a living at it. My challenge as an independent artist is to produce the best quality work I can and to get the word out with my resources. And I know that if I stay on my grind and continue to dream big, I’ll overcome even the most cynical boardroom, but until then, my boss is the consumer, and that’s not a bad place to be.

Jamati: I love every single song on the album but have to say that Slums of Paradise gets put on repeat every single time. It is an amazing song that speaks about Africa. Can you give us the story behind that song?

Wayna: I was in Ethiopia for a short stay, and every evening when we headed out to dinner or to visit family, we passed a young woman working as a prostitute on a major city road just outside of Bole, which is considered a ‘good part of town.’ I was really surprised to see this so out in the open, especially in an affluent area, and I started to wonder what in this woman’s life could have brought her to this. What came out was the first verse of the song, which is essentially a story about two young Ethiopians who are victims of poverty, lack of opportunity and eventually sickness. The idea is that our country was once like Eden, a paradise, but with all of its misfortune, that paradise is turning into a slum.

Jamati: And also the African influence on the song Desperation Days which is my theme song (laughing).

Wayna: I know that’s right! Desperation Days was produced by Abegaz Shiota, who is close to legendary in terms of his contribution to Ethiopian music. At the time we were working, Teddy Tadesse, probably one of the most amazing vocalists in our community, was recording in the same studio. My manager asked him to sing a quick riff on the song, just spur of the moment. I explained to him what it was about, and he went in and laid it down in under 5 minutes. It added a new texture to the track and turned out to be one of my favorite moments on the album.

Jamati: The song Mama’s Sacrifice is another powerful and very personal song. Did you get any backlash for being so personal?

Wayna: I think that when you share a personal story and your purpose is sincere and pure, even the most private people can accept and appreciate it. I had my hesitations at first, because we’re raised as Africans to keep the difficult parts of our lives private, but I think that for most people maintaining those images is a burden. And on some level, we’d all prefer to be real without being judged. But I can say that anyone who hears the song recognizes it as a tribute to my mother’s strength and integrity, and I can’t tell you how many people have told me that it could have been written about their family. So I’m proud that I got to truly honor her while telling a story that so many incredible women and the children they’ve raise can relate to.

Jamati: You started off in a very traditional career path by working as a writer in the White House under the Bill Clinton administration. I admire you for following your dream of singing and performing. Were there any people in your family and circle that weren’t happy to see you give up the stable 9 to 5?

Wayna: Honestly, I was concerned when I first made the switch to being an artist that I’d be disappointing some people, and that to them, it would be a failure or a step backward. But the irony is that the opposite happened.
All of the people closest to me knew that this was my dream since childhood, and nobody was really surprised. And once they heard the music, they were excited and pulling for me. Now, two of my closest friends have quit their jobs and started businesses of their own. So it I think it actually inspired other people to also take a leap of faith and make their dream their career.

Jamati: You have treated your fans to ‘My Love’, “Daydream’, and ‘Moments of Clarity’ from Moments of Clarity- Book 2 on your myspace page and they are all great songs. I have to ask on behalf of the many Wayna fans out there waiting, when is the new album coming?

Wayna: It will be out later this fall! So please check my website www.wayna.net or www.myspace.com/waynamusic for info about tour dates and retail outlets where the new album can be bought or ordered. I’ve poured a lot of hard work and love into this project, and I can’t wait to share it!

Jamati: Any plans on singing some songs in your native tongue Amharic in the future?

Wayna: Absolutely. I’m planning an extended trip to Ethiopia next year, where I’ll really get a chance to study more music and work with producers there, and that is one of the goals. I actually plan to do an entire project dedicated to Ethiopian women, which I am thrilled about. I can’t unveil the particulars yet, but I will say that it will tell some very powerful stories in a way that will really showcase the breadth and beauty of our people.
I’m sure it will be my favorite undertaking.

Jamati: You immigrated to America when you were very young. Did you have harsh experiences as an immigrant?

Wayna: Plenty, but thankfully, my family instilled a very strong sense of cultural pride in me early on. There were times growing up when I compromised sharing all of who I am in the name of fitting in, but on some very fundamental level, I always felt lucky to be from this beautiful place. I actually remember one incident when I was in 5th grade, when a group of boys in my class decided to play a game during play time called ‘chase the african.’ They ran around me in the playground chanting that phrase over and over. I paid them no mind, but my teachers saw what happened, and called them in to punish them. They each had to write me an apology letter. Later, one of my teachers called me in to tell me in private how wrong they were and to give me the letters, certain that I had been traumatized by the whole thing. I couldn’t believe that she thought something like that would really bother me, as if anything those boys would say could make me think less of where I was from. I have to give my mom credit for that; it is exactly the kind of attitude she’s always had, and I think it rubbed off.

Jamati: Any message to your African fans and jamtionline readers?

THANK YOU for helping me do what I love and supporting my work. Please keep in touch! I want to hear from you and what you’d like to hear from me. Are there any new sounds or artists from your country you’d like to share, do you have any stories that you think people need to hear. And finally, please spread the word! Put in a good word for me at your local radio station or live music venue. My success is your success.

Wayna assures us of an end of November release date for the new album. To find out more about Wayna and listen to songs from her debut album visit her website and myspace page . Click here to buy her album.