Shayna Steele’s new album Gold Dust was created in the wake of the pandemic, a breakthrough 20 years in the making. In 10 tracks, she absorbs the darkness of isolation and illuminates the air with her brilliant voice and emotion–setting a new gold standard for jazz and soul.
Previously reaching #2 on the iTunes Jazz Charts for her 2015 album Rise, Shayna is no stranger to the spotlight. Her effortless execution of both soul and jazz has grabbed the attention of audiences globally, be it the Vancouver Jazz Festival, the Blue Note or those of the biggest symphonies throughout North America. Throughout her career, Shayna has lent her talent to leading artists such as Grammy Award-winning trumpeter, Chris Botti, Moby, Snarky Puppy, soundtracks like Hairspray, the Bourne Identity, and Sex and the City 2, and has even appeared on The Sopranos.
After spending her early years living mainly in Germany as the daughter of an Air Force master sergeant, Shayna spent her teen years in Biloxi, Mississippi, where she honed her musical theater and vocal talent. Her appearance on Star Search with Ed McMahon provided a bigger spotlight for her and, after leaving college, found her in New York City appearing in the smash hit musical, RENT, Jesus Christ Superstar and Tony Award winning musical, Hairspray. She then moved out on her own, providing background vocals for Bette Midler, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson and countless other stars.
An outgrowth of the Pandemic’s gridlock on the music industry, Shayna’s inspiration for Gold Dust was fueled by her creative relationship with her newly-found extra family time. It drove her not only to return to writing songs following her 2019 Watch Me Fly (Must Have/Membran) but also to return to music school to finish her music degree at the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
She says, “I did most of my writing on the subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan. The city has a pulse, and I had to find a heartbeat within my confined space. My new work reflects my connection with my daughter, social justice, coming up from the ashes and a newfound freedom from isolation. The darkness did not swallow me whole, and I’m grateful to be back.”
In 2023 Shayna will debut her solo symphony show American Diva with the prestigious Rochester Philharmonic Symphony, led by Grammy Award winning conductor and composer Jeff Tyzik. The show will feature arrangements of her music and favorite covers.
Previously reaching #2 on the iTunes Jazz Charts for her 2015 album Rise, Shayna is no stranger to the spotlight. Her effortless execution of both soul and jazz has grabbed the attention of audiences globally, be it the Vancouver Jazz Festival, the Blue Note or those of the biggest symphonies throughout North America. Throughout her career, Shayna has lent her talent to leading artists such as Grammy Award-winning trumpeter, Chris Botti, Moby, Snarky Puppy, soundtracks like Hairspray, the Bourne Identity, and Sex and the City 2, and has even appeared on The Sopranos.
After spending her early years living mainly in Germany as the daughter of an Air Force master sergeant, Shayna spent her teen years in Biloxi, Mississippi, where she honed her musical theater and vocal talent. Her appearance on Star Search with Ed McMahon provided a bigger spotlight for her and, after leaving college, found her in New York City appearing in the smash hit musical, RENT, Jesus Christ Superstar and Tony Award winning musical, Hairspray. She then moved out on her own, providing background vocals for Bette Midler, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson and countless other stars.
An outgrowth of the Pandemic’s gridlock on the music industry, Shayna’s inspiration for Gold Dust was fueled by her creative relationship with her newly-found extra family time. It drove her not only to return to writing songs following her 2019 Watch Me Fly (Must Have/Membran) but also to return to music school to finish her music degree at the prestigious Berklee College of Music.
She says, “I did most of my writing on the subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan. The city has a pulse, and I had to find a heartbeat within my confined space. My new work reflects my connection with my daughter, social justice, coming up from the ashes and a newfound freedom from isolation. The darkness did not swallow me whole, and I’m grateful to be back.”
In 2023 Shayna will debut her solo symphony show American Diva with the prestigious Rochester Philharmonic Symphony, led by Grammy Award winning conductor and composer Jeff Tyzik. The show will feature arrangements of her music and favorite covers.
