Asiahn
“I’m focusing on being nicer to myself, to bring myself back to peace.”
Sweet voice, sweet aura, and sweet tunes…we’re enamored with this sweet superstar. Our next CUT in Blaque artist is splendid: Asiahn.
Asiahn (born Asia Bryant) was born on November 24, 1987 in Paterson, New Jersey. Asiahn’s enlightening talent has led her to become a triple threat, showing off her gift as a songwriter, singer, and voice actress. She’s on the radio; she’s on the screen; and most importantly, she’s on our minds heavy! When you’re as magnificent as her…you can’t help but enjoy being tuned in.
From an early age, Asiahn has always felt a connection with music. As true artists often do, Asiahn used music as an outlet to heal from various problems and pains (we love a relatable queen!). Asiahn’s professional career started when her mentor, Craig King, worked with A&R James Bennett to curate an artistic development for her. Years later, she continued to hone her craft by joining the tours of famous artists (Kanye West, Erykah Badu, and Ludacris, to name a few!) This led her to eventually signing with Universal Music Group in 2011; shortly after, her debut EP “Analog Girl X Digital World” was released under Motown. She later dropped two more EPs, the smooth and sultry Love Train (2017) and the refreshing and revealing Love Train 2 (2019)
Song of the Show
A CUT in Blaque segment highlighting Black LGBTQIA+ musical talent from around our community across genres through a series of artist videos, song snippets, and reviews to increase awareness amongst our people.
Asiahn had more to show than just a magical and magnificent singing voice; she also had the skill to write hits for other artists. For the next few years, Asiahn earned songwriting credits for several stars, including Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez, and the tv series “Empire” and “STAR” soundtracks. In addition to songwriting, Asiahn picked up a starring role that required her to use her voice a little bit differently: she became the voice actress for the titular character in “Karma’s World”, a Netflix series produced by Ludacris. Not only does she voice the titular character, but she also provides original music for the TV’s soundtrack! Sounds like she’s blessing two stones with one voice…
One of Asiahn’s biggest priorities when it comes to her music is always to be authentic. That includes telling stories about love, heartbreak, and even her sexuality. Her EP Love Train 2 proudly proclaims her identity as a lesbian, but this wasn’t without a reasonable risk. Although many in the music industry advised Asiahn not to out herself via her music, she was committed to being true to herself and ultimately her music. Growing up, there weren’t many Black Queer musicians and artists to look up to. Asiahn hopes that with her transparency and authenticity, she can become a Black Queer model for the younger generation of artists.
Fresh off of PRIDE 2022 YouTube performance and gearing up for a summer series of live performances titled “Soho Rising x Asiahn”, we’re excited to tune in to all of Asiahn’s future projects! We’re grateful for her incredible representation and undeniable talent. What is some of your favorite work from Asiahn? Let us know below!
Starter Pack: Asiahn
Each Starter Pack playlist is a curated compilation of a Black Queer artist’s greatest musical hits, further exploring the music of the African diaspora. This includes jazz, blues, gospel, rock and roll, hip hop, and R&B.