Pronounced NAHN-yah-nah, she was born an Army brat in Landsthul, Germany to a jolly Tennessee country mountain boy and strong, beautiful Thai mother. And that makes for a great combination in the mixture of culture and fire in her heart that she writes and sings about.
Nanyana remembers even as a child the sensation of heartfelt singing that provoked such emotion it brought tears to her eyes. Her father introduced her to Sade and Dolly Parton when she was a little girl. Dolly of course, because he is from TENN, but also becuz she was family. Every trip was like a Sade / Dolly Parton concert, mixed with some classic Thai tunes.
Settling in the suburbs of Atlanta Georgia, her first band was a trio girl group where 11 yr old Nanyana began composing songs. By fifteen she taught herself to play guitar. She locked herself in her room and jammed out to Temple of the Dog and Soundgarden. Dreaming of the chance to do a duo with the almighty Chris Cornell, her biggest male influence, besides Jay Kay from Jamiroquai, which freed her funkier side.
She enjoyed many heavy sounds of Rock like Pantera, and Stone Temple Pilots, and her biggest Jazz/R & B/hip hop influences were Sarah Vaughn, Erykah Badu, Stevie Wonder and Gangstar.
Time went on and a group of guys who were her good friends and fellow music aficionados asked her to try out for a project they were working on and immediately formed a band they named after her. There, she was known for a captivating energetic stage presence. They produced one self-titled album, but as life and change would have it, after five fun and educational years they parted.
Country Asian culture in her blood and the beauty to match her authentic ingenuity, her heart holds such a fierce passion for love of life and depth of knowledge. As exotic as a Thai princess and as spirited as a gypsy, Nanyana's voice is whole and angelic yet powerful and energetic. She questions the very depths of one's soul and the many facets of love in her lyrics.
Her songwriting skills have earned notice of talented industry shaker Grammy Award winner Speech Thomas from Arrested Development with whom she has co-written songs.
Her strength-passion, her gift is singing and songwriting. Put them together and you get life songs, a tapestry of real life.
