Brooklyn Artist Ayana Sheree Talks Music, Boss Babe Culture and Hustles Like Hell
written by Tiara Jade
West Indians have excelled in the music industry for decades, creating new genres influenced by their roots and creative spins on existing sounds. Ayana Sheree is Caribbean American singer looking to bring back the passion of the 90s mixed with the rhythm of her Caribbean heritage.
The-24 year-old artist was born and raised in Brooklyn’s famous Flatbush neighborhood. From a young age, Sheree was involved in music through her church and school band. While in college she began to feel frustration, realizing she wasn’t pursuing something she was passionate about. She decided to leave school and pursue her music career full-time.
“I thought, I’m putting all this time into college when I could be doing this for something I’m truly passionate about,” Sheree said.
Sheree’s father is from Jamaica and her mother is from the Bahamas; her maternal grandparents from Haiti. Her sound is greatly influenced by a fusion of cultures. She describes her sound as a mix of dancehall and R&B, taking influences from the reggae and soca genres she grew up listening to. Sheree recalls her childhood, remembering how her mother would often play soca to liven things up when times were tough.
Don’t Stop Official Music Video
Sheree aims to be raw with her lyrics in hopes that her audience will feel the exact emotions she does in the song. She takes the same approach with her visuals, looking to create projects that are outside of the box. The songstress is currently spending a month in Jamaica, visiting family and working on unreleased songs that will be part of her debut EP.
“I want to bring back that late 90s, early 2000s vibe. Music today doesn’t have that same passion anymore… I want my music to be very genuine.”
Aside from music, Sheree also has a passion for modeling. Since pursuing modeling, she has worked for a number of West Indian brands and mas camps in the U.S.
“It’s a form of art... I see myself as a physical form of art so I’m going to showcase myself as an art piece,” she said.
Sheree explained that body positivity is important to her, and through modeling she looks to show others she’s comfortable in her own body and focuses on bettering herself.
Sheree’s drive doesn’t stop there. The songstress describes how entrepreneurship has helped her in dark times. She runs a baking business called Sweet Flavors, making cookies, cakes, vegan goods and more. She began baking as a child and started selling goods while in high school. Sheree recalled a time where she was homeless and sold $500 worth of baked goods on the street. Profits from her business are often dedicated to her music career. She explained that the most challenging part of being an artist are the expenses. She’s worked two jobs and baked on the side to fund her career. From photoshoots and studio time to music videos and promotion, she is self-funded.
“I’m grateful for that because it built me as an artist and made me more independent as an artist.”
Sheree’s hometown of Brooklyn is home to one of the largest West Indian sections in the U.S., Little Caribbean. Sheree emphasized that community is very important to her. She actively participates in the fight against gentrification in East Flatbush. Sheree plans on putting up flyers in the neighborhood to remind the community that they have a voice. She explains that small businesses in the area are greatly affected and the affordable housing being built doesn’t help residents, but rather drives them away. Sheree hopes to one day start her own foundation that will help children and impoverished communities by focusing on individual and community needs.
When asked where she hopes to see herself in next five years, Sheree said:
“Working on my first or second album, I’ll be invited to the MET gala, the BET awards, the Grammy’s… I want my name to be known by a lot of people.”
For other young Caribbean women looking to pursue music and entrepreneurship, Sheree says:
“Forget what anyone has to say to you, don’t let anyone put a bug in your ear… It’s a big investment but it’s going to be worth it and you’re soon going to see the fruits of your labor.”
She stressed that staying positive and inspired are essential through the ups and downs that come with pursuing an independent career.
Ayana Sheree serves as representation of a group underrepresented in a mainstream media —West Indian women. As she’s in Jamaica working on her upcoming videos Sheree hopes to bring Caribbean vibes musically back to Brooklyn.
To hear Sheree’s music visit her YouTube channel here.
