# Nyanda

Nyanda Janelle Thorbourne, better known by her stage name/mononym Nyanda, is a Jamaican-American singer and songwriter from Kingston, Jamaica. Nyanda is a member of the R&B/reggae duo Brick & Lace whose debut album, Love Is Wicked, was released through Geffen / Kon Live in 2007 and featured the chart-topping single "Love Is Wicked".
In February 2013, Nyanda released her first promotional single, "Trouble", after announcing that she would be pursuing a solo career in music. Her first official single, "Slippery When Wet", was released in September 2013.

## Early life

Nyanda Thorbourne was born to an African-American mother and a Jamaican father in Kingston, Jamaica. She has 3 sisters, Tasha, Nailah and Candace Thorbourne. Nyanda went to Campion College High School during which time her group Brick & Lace was formed. After graduating High School Nyanda studied Marketing at Miami Dade College and then Advertising & Theater at the University of Miami. The name "Nyanda" is a Swahili word which means "plains".

## Career
### Brick and Lace (2006–2012)

Nyanda's career in music started as a member of the pop/reggae group Brick & Lace. In 2006 Akon signed the group to Konvict Muzik / Geffen Records and released their debut album, Love Is Wicked in 2007. The album spawned four charting singles – "Never Never", "Get That Clear", "Bad to di Bone" and their biggest hit, "Love Is Wicked", which was listed for 97 weeks in 7 different charts.

### Solo career (2013–present)

February 2013 marked the launch of Nyanda's career as a solo artist with the release of her promotional single, "Trouble". Produced by Black Lion, "Trouble" is a remix of Taylor Swift's multi-platinum single "I Knew You Were Trouble" which fuses reggae, dancehall and pop music. "Trouble" entered UK Music Week's Top 30 Urban Club Charts in Week 7 (2013) and remained in the charts for 7 Weeks, peaking at No. 15.
Nyanda's first official single, "Slippery When Wet", was initially released as a free download through SoundCloud on March 8, 2013. "Slippery When Wet" entered UK Music Week's Urban Club Charts in Week 27 (2013) and remained in the Top 30 for 5 weeks, peaking at No. 13. It was licensed and officially released later in the year by Cloud 9 (Benelux), Magic Records (Poland & Bulgaria) and Tropic Electric / InGrooves (Rest of the World). "Slippery When Wet" Won the Award for Best Reggae Song at the 2014 Lipstick Radio's Indie Music Awards.
In August 2013, Nyanda released the electro fueled house track, "Cool & Deadly" with South African DJs Euphonik and Fresh. "Cool & Deadly" was considered a South African Summer Anthem in 2013 as it climbed to No. 28 on South Africa Airplay Charts and reached No. 1 on 5FM's Top 40. The music video for "Cool & Deadly" was done documentary style, with all footage being taken from Split Seconds, a 5-part TV series on Channel O showcasing the fast-paced look at Fresh and Euphonik in Miami during 2013's Winter Music Conference.

### Bloodline

In 2010, Nyanda and her sisters formed the songwriting team Bloodline. They have written songs for Kelly Rowland, Christina Aguilera, Nicole Scherzinger, Leah LaBelle and Arash. In 2012, she co-wrote the gold-certified, chart topping single "Follow the Leader" by Wisin & Yandel featuring Jennifer Lopez.

## Philanthropy
### Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU)

In February 2014, Nyanda was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Reach a Hand Uganda.

## Discography
### Singles
#### As lead artist

| Year | Single | Album |
| 2017 | "Rodeo Wine" | Non-album singles |
| 2017 | "Young & Alive" (with DJ LBR) | Non-album singles |
| 2016 | "Keep Me Up All Night" (with Ripstar) | Non-album singles |
| 2015 | "The Way U Love" | Non-album singles |
| 2015 | "All My Love" | Non-album singles |
| 2015 | "Put It on Me" | Non-album singles |
| 2014 | "I Love Sax" (with Black Lion) | I Love Sax EP |
| 2013 | "Slippery When Wet" | Slippery When Wet EP |
| 2013 | "Cool & Deadly" (with Fresh and Euphonik as F.eU) | Cool & Deadly EP |
| 2013 | "Trouble" | Promotional single |

#### As featured artist

| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Year | Title | BEL | SPA | Album |
| 2013 | "Your Ways" (Nyanda & GNL, Ray Signature, Irene Ntale, Big Tril, Maurice Hasa) | — | — | — |
| 2013 | "You Got Me Good (Tu Es Ma Go)" (Muss feat. Nyanda) | — | — | — |
| 2013 | "Je Dis Oui" (Barbara Kanam feat. Nyanda) | — | — | — |
| 2013 | "Boom & Rave" (Black Lion feat. Mr. Vegas & Nyanda) | — | — | Boom & Rave – EP |
| 2013 | "Like a Pro" (The Wizard feat. Nyanda & Chedda) | — | — | Like a Pro – EP |
| 2014 | "Blazin" (ChildsPlay feat. the Kemist & Nyanda) | — | — | — |
| 2014 | "Mash It Up" (Black Lion & the Wizard feat. Kat Dahlia, Nyanda & the Kemist) | — | — | Black Lion Reggae Invasion Vol. 1 |
| 2014 | "Run Away" (Ian Thomas featuring Nyanda) | 25 | 28 | Gametime |
| 2015 | "Kikute" (Leila Kayondo feat. Nyanda) | — | — | — |
| 2015 | "Outta Control" (Admiral C4C feat. Nyanda) | — | — | — |
| 2016 | "Dancing Kizomba (The Kemist Remix)" (Alx Veliz feat. Nyanda) | — | — | Single only |
| 2016 | "Touch Me" (Jessy Matador feat. Nyanda) | — | — | Non-album single |
| 2016 | "No Apologies (The Kemist Remix)" (JoJo feat. Wiz Khalifa & Nyanda) | — | — | Single only |
| 2018 | "Wokie Wokie" (Mr. P feat. Nyanda) | – | – | Non-album single |
| 2019 | "Like Ya" (Jul feat. Nyanda) | | | Rien100rien réédition |

### Non-singles
#### As lead artist

| Year | Song | Album |
| 2015 | "Cinnamon Roll" (feat. Dionne Renée) | Black Lion Reggae Invasion Vol. 1 |
| 2015 | "One More Time" (with The Kemist) | Black Lion Reggae Invasion Vol. 1 |
| 2015 | "Footprints" (feat. Assassin) | Black Lion Reggae Invasion Vol. 1 |
| 2014 | "I Won't Take You Back" | Xleration Riddim – Single |

#### As featured artist

| Year | Song | Artist | Album |
| 2015 | "Mine Tonight" | Burna Boy (feat. Nyanda) | On A Spaceship |
| 2015 | | "Dangerous" | Pachanga (feat. Nyanda) | La Era Positivo |
| 2014 | "Superman" | Arash (feat. Nyanda) | Superman |
| 2014 | | Arash (feat. Nyanda) | Superman | "Ma Bala" |
| 2018 | | "Wokie Wokie" | Mr P (feat. Nyanda) | Wokie Wokie Single |

### Songwriting credits

| Year | Song | Artist | Album |
| 2013 | "Club Saved My Life" | Wally Lopez featuring Brick & Lace and J Balvin | Follow Me! |
| 2013 | "Shot Gun" | Brian Cross featuring Leah LaBelle | Pop Star – The Album |
| 2012 | "Follow the Leader" | Wisin & Yandel featuring Jennifer Lopez | Líderes |
| 2012 | "Around the World" | Christina Aguilera | Lotus |
| 2012 | "Grenade" | Vincenzo featuring Brick & Lace | La Matrice |
| 2011 | "Say Yes" | Nicole Scherzinger | Killer Love |
| 2011 | "This Time" (Sidney Samson Remix) | Kizzo featuring Bloodline | — |
| 2009 | "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" | A. R. Rahman and The Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger | Doll Domination |
| 2009 | "Swat" | Brick & Lace | Birch – Military Riddim |
| 2007 | "Get That Clear (Hold Up)" | Brick & Lace | Love Is Wicked |
| 2007 | "Never Never" | Brick & Lace | Love Is Wicked |
| 2007 | "Don't Stop" | Brick & Lace | Love Is Wicked |
| 2007 | "Take Me Back" | Brick & Lace | Love Is Wicked |
| 2007 | "Why'd You Lie" | Brick & Lace | Love Is Wicked |
| 2007 | "Love is Wicked" | Brick & Lace | Love Is Wicked |
| 2007 | "Boyfriend" | Brick & Lace | Love Is Wicked |
| 2007 | "Push It Up" | Brick & Lace | Love Is Wicked |
| 2007 | "Buss A Shot" | Brick & Lace | Love Is Wicked |
| 2007 | "Mr. Officer" | Brick & Lace | Love Is Wicked |
| 2007 | "My Apple" | Brick & Lace | Love Is Wicked |
| 2007 | "U and Me" | Brick & Lace | Love Is Wicked |
| 2006 | "Move Tonight" | Brick & Lace | Detrimental Riddim |
| 2006 | "Nice 2 Meet U" | Frank n Dank featuring Brick & Lace | Nice 2 Meet U ('06 Version) 12" |
| 2005 | "Tonight" | Brick & Lace | Bionic Ras Riddim |
| 2005 | "Make Me Wanna Get Naughty" | Brick & Lace | Blink Riddim |

## Music videos

| Year | Video | Director |
| 2015 | "All My Love" | Alex Ceausu |
| 2015 | "Put It On Me" | Alex Ceausu |
| 2014 | "Run Away" | Peter Muls / Debbie Rowe |
| 2014 | "Trouble" | Eric Christian King |
| 2014 | "I Love Sax" | Damian Fyffe |
| 2014 | "Mash It Up" | The Governor |
| 2014 | "You Got Me Good" | Muss |
| 2014 | "Your Ways" | Dayo Atarodo |
| 2013 | "Slippery When Wet" | Muss |
| 2013 | "Like A Pro" | Igreco |
| 2013 | "Cool & Deadly" | — |