Born and raised in East St. Louis, Il Arama was introduced to music and the arts at a very early age. With her mother being a music teacher of over 25 years and her father being a professional actor and trained dancer, Arama drew inspiration from both parents. With years of training in singing, piano, and dance under her belt, Arama took up another skill and studied Finance at the University of Illinois at Chicago. While there on a full academic scholarship, she made ends meet and stayed true to her heart by performing in musical theater with the Black Ensemble Theater of Chicago. After graduation Arama's life took a twist when she realized she didn't have a desire to work in Finance or a way to start a professional music career. So she decided to leave the country and traveled around Asia. For a year Arama spent time in Japan, South Korea, and China (Beijing) where she taught English and occassionally performed. After this experience, she made the most challenging move of her life and moved to New York City to pursue her dream. Staying at a friend of a friend's and knowing no one else in New York, Arama put her fears behind and sang at various Manhattan clubs including "Village Underground", "Soul Cafe", and "Sugar Bar". After only a month in New York, Arama was introduced to Platinum songwriter Balewa Muhammed of "The Clutch" where she began recording and was trained in both writing and studio recording. Arama has worked with many talented producers and artists and she learns from everyone as she develops her sound. She cites artists such as Dinah Washington, Rachelle Ferrell, Sade, and Lauryn Hill as influences. Being an avid listener of Blues, Jazz, and R&B Arama's music can be best described as a hybrid of all three genres but still evolving.
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