Aja Sardis

There was never a point in my life that I remember ever being without good, wholesome music . . . now that I'm able to pursue this on my own, I want nothing more than to break out of this sub-standard mold. I know that I can go beyond the current trend.-Aja SardisInfluenced by the Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic and Steely Dan records her parents kept playing in heavy rotation at home, Aja began singing at a very young age. She performed with her home church choir and participated in as many musicals and singing troupes her elementary schools had to offer. It wasn't until she joined Cleveland's East Technical High School Gospel Choir at the age of 14 that she began to blossom and develop her own style as a vocalist. Her voice has been said to be eclectic and unique, soulful and raw, innocent yet sensual, spine-tingling. Traveling with the choir and performing in Shakespeare recitals, she gained the confidence and experience that would help her to excel later in her career. Her exceptional flair for theatrical performance garnered her the coveted top prize in a regional Shakespearean Recitation competition, which included a trip to New York to compete among the best in the nation. She was later accepted to attend the prestigious American Music and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York. However, her scholarship was not enough to cover the tuition. She bit the bullet and moved to Detroit, Michigan to embark on a new journey with even better results. Not long after arriving in her new home, she replied to an audition call for a play entitled We Are Not Good Girls. Aja won over the author and director with her stunning performance earning her the understudy role for Lucy and stage managing position. Following a successful season, the author of the play, two-time Grammy nominee Kate Hart, requested Aja to join her newly formed band Detroit Women with Motor City. Aja eagerly accepted the offer and sang a required, preliminary set of shows with Detroit Women as a substitute temporarily filling in when other band mates could not attend specified gigs. She proved herself as a vocal force and gained a permanent position in the band at the start of Detroit Women's summer tour in 2005. Detroit Women has earned 13 Detroit Music Awards in 2005 and an additional 5 awards in 2006. Since then, she has performed on stage with Detroit electronica guru Niko Marks during the 2005 Fuse-In Electronic Music Festival, Motown's Gil Bridges of Rare Earth, Kathi McDonald (former Ikette and background vocalist for Joe Cocker and The Rolling Stones), Roy Young reverently known as the English Little Richard (The Beatles, The Who, David Bowie, Elton John), Paul Miles, Terrie Lea & The Mustangs, and Johnny Reed & The House Rockers and has received a Bachelors in linguistics from Wayne State University in May 2006. Aja Sardis has also notably performed with Detroit Women at the 2006 Riverwalk Blues Festival, the Detroit Athletic Club for the exclusive Super Bowl XL pre-game and post-game celebration, 2005 Blues Brews & Barbeques Festival filling in the headliner position for Ike Turner, 2005 Thunder Bay Blues Festival, the Detroit Hard Rock Cafe, 2005 Festival Epicure, 2006 Mamapalooza at the Royal Oak Theatre, We Are Not Good Girls (edited by T.J. Hemphill) at The City Theatre [nee The Second City] and the 2006 UNICEF Benefit Fundraiser alongside Paul Miles. Aja Sardis has a passion, charisma, and vocal ability that all have earned her critical acclaim whenever she touches a microphone. She gives of herself entirely on stage emitting an energy and emotion that fully captivates her audience. Aja Sardis is also an avid song writer conveying a depth, candor and aptitude rarely found in young artists. She is currently in the process of forming her own band and changing music forever!