“A spine chilling talent…”
- Toronto Star

    Soul-Folk songstress Layah Jane is a hearty young musician with a mission. With soulful vocals and a poetic, articulate tongue, Layah’s sound recalls Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones and Phoebe Snow, with a resonance all her own.
   
   A spirited and natural performer, Layah has been invited to play countless shows and festival showcases including the Rochester International Jazz Festival, The Ottawa Folk Festival, The Ontario Council of Folk Festival’s Conference, Toronto Winterfolk Festival, Toronto Indie Music Week, Toronto City Roots Festival, North by Northeast Music Festival, and New Music West.

    Layah's highly anticipated full-length sophomore release, "Brightness & Bravery" (Grace Note Records, 2008) received critical acclaim, and garnered a 2008 Ontario Independent Music Award (Best Female Artist), a nomination for a second 2008 Ontario Independent Music Award (Best Song), and a nomination for a Toronto Independent Music Award (Best Folk).

    "Brightness & Bravery" was produced by Oliver Johnson (Esthero, Divine Brown), and is a personal, political and passionate musical offering.  A collection of Canada’s finest players offered their musical blessing: Ben Riley (Bruce Cockburn), Mark Mariash (Ron Sexsmith, Sarah Slean), Bryden Baird (Feist), Lyle Molzan (Jann Arden), Marc Rogers (K’naan, Philosopher Kings), Brian MacMillan (Kevin Hearn, Barenaked Ladies) and Burke Carroll (Kathleen Edwards) among others.

    In 2007, Layah's second release, an EP entitled "Patience" (Grace Note Records, 2007), won an Ontario Independent Music Award (Best Folk), and received nominations for two Toronto Independent Music Awards (Best Folk and Best Female Fronted Band).

    Following the release of her debut album "Grievance and Gratitude" (Grace Note Records, 2005), Layah won a 2005 CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award, and the award for Best Political Song in the Ontario Council of Folk Festival's 2005 songwriting competition. In 2006, she received a Toronto Independent Music Award for Best Jazz, and a nomination in the Best Live Acoustic Act category, as well as a nomination for an American Independent Music Award in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category.

    Today, Layah’s songs are permeating the realms of television, radio, and film, with songs licensed for use in dramas on Global TV and ESPN, and in several internationally distributed documentary films, as well as live performances on entertainment TV shows across Canada.  Through regular college and CBC radio play, as well as a fortunate invitation to be the voice of the Dove Self Esteem Fund’s 2006 “True Colors” TV Campaign, listeners all over the world are being introduced to Layah Jane through the airwaves.

    Morphing from singer-songwriter to DJ, Layah co-founded the Move Collective, a Toronto dance jam that spread west to Calgary and east to Halifax. Voted Best Non-smoking Dance Event in Toronto by Now Magazine in 2003, rotating DJs pack dance floors each week.

    Equally at home onstage as in the studio or the DJ booth, 2008 proved to be the busiest touring year to date for Layah, with self-booked shows all over North America.  Layah is currently at work on her third studio recording, and is playing dates in Canada and the Northeast US throughout 2009. Receiving enthusiastic support wherever she plays, Layah Jane’s songs speak courageous and tender, to the hungry hearts of poets, activists, and lovers alike.