MyGen Profile GeneratorEvery now and then talent emerges so sincere that its purity is the very thing to give it class above the rest of the competition. This is the very sort of talent that the young gifted Katanya holds and displays in her valuable work. With a sound that can be described as having the same depth and maturity of her existing soul contemporaries, but being as accessible and catchy as any quality pop hit, there is no mistaking her potential. Her beauty transcends beyond her funky fresh looks and is displayed in her captivating smoky velvety tones backed by well-crafted elaborate harmonies and vocal arrangements that could be on par with any of todays top vocal performers. Although her good looks and vocal talent are breath taking alone, her strongest talent by far is her incredible song writing skills, a finely developed muscle she has been flexing since the age of 10.
Still only at the tender age of 24, Katanya has gained a whole host of experience that has allowed her to be serenely confident in her performances both in the studio and on stage. At 17 she was part of an all-girl R&B quartet Quadrika and was chief songwriter for the group as they toured the London club circuit. She went on to develop her skills by studying song writing composition and popular music, which led her to be chosen to perform in Stockholm, Sweden at a song writing conference. Oista; a soul-folk acoustic duo, was then born with Damien Townsend and the two performed at many events around the UK where Katanya crafted her performance technique. Not stopping there, she entered various singer-song writing contests and competitions, all of which resulted in her reaching the finalist stage such as for the BBC Africa Connection project. She also gladly performed at an anti-gun collation set up by Ken Livingston called Rise in 2004.
It was in the early part of 2005 though that Katanya took the first steps into recording her debut album and establishing herself fully as a solo artist, oddly enough through joining UK gay hip-hop collective QFam. Through joining the crew as their honorary straight member, it immediately gave her a whole host of new talented artists to work with. Founding member QBoy enlisted Katanyas dreamy vocals on two tracks from his forthcoming album, asking her to join the QFam crew on the main stage at this years Big Gay Out in July 05 and subsequently at the PeaceOUT UK festivals one month later. In return his has lent his rhymes to her summer time blazing hit Hot. Fellow South-East Londoner Icykal followed suit too, producing and rapping on the tantalising track Gypsy and the remix for her first single. However it is Wayne Lathams production and writing skills that have managed five of the tracks on the forthcoming album as well as giving Katanya regular P.A. slots at his monthly Urban Showcase.
Her heartfelt debut single Father and the beautifully shot accompanying video has been getting major attention on radio and TV, including persistent play on Channel U getting her to number 1, staying in the Top 5, 8 weeks in a row. The second single - When Did You Come In, also produced by Wayne Latham, already has a video shot for it and is due to follow the success of the current single. With the album to be delivered to the eager hands of the public and industry alike in early 2006, Katanyas future is as sure and solid as her work to date and she still has so much room for growth. And despite sharing the talents of many of todays top divas, in quite the reverse Katanyas charming and polite character and bubbly and caring personality will be what keep the public and industry in love with her for a long time to come.
Check out Katanya's Number 1 Channel U Hit! - 'Father'
