Tayahna
Portrait with David Johnson
Description: A young woman in casual clothing sits in a music recording studio. Behind her is a large mixing console and other staff and recording artists.
Portrait with Zachary Maxwell Stertz
“The Arts in general have always been a part of me since I was very very young. I actually started off playing instruments and performing in talent shows dancing.
I am a singer, I am a songwriter, I am a rapper, I am a music producer, I don’t know if i’d label myself as an artist yet. I try to showcase all of the different aspects of myself when I'm meeting different people. I think that it's important to show yourself as a whole individual and... well I'm an artist as a whole in every aspect.
I draw inspiration from my environment, things that I find interesting or I find thought provoking or things that matter to me in the world that inspire me to create whether it is musically or artistically.
I'm doing a bit of poetry right now. I used to be very into philosophy. Poetry is something that moves my spirit. Something that is also interesting to me is architecture.
Me in the future...So, I’m waking up and I immediately get a call and it's like “Hey, Beyonce’s in the studio and she needs someone to produce her next track.” So I’m there, surrounded by all these creative individuals and we’re working on a track, you know making a song, and Beyonce is like, “Hey do you want to get on the song as well?” And I end up collaborating with Beyonce.
I’d like to start my own production company and I think if I had to produce anyone I’d produce Bryson Tiller, I’d produce Alessia Cara. I’d produce the young crowd that I see have potential.
I’m most proud of my performances. My mom is always there and I’m always making her proud, you know she says, “that’s my baby!” It’s always an amazing feeling to inspire the young people in the crowd too like, “If Tayanha can do it, I can do it.” It shows me that I have the power to move people and I have the power to influence and inspire other individuals.”
New York, 2017