Jazz/R&B vocalist Shayna Steele announces the release of her new single “Wear Me Down,” from her upcoming sophomore full-length album Rise, out January 20th, 2015. The record features jazz stars Christian McBride, Marcus Miller and Eric Harland, as well as guest performances from Robert Randolph, Sachal Vasandani and more.

Blending shades of blues with heavy jazz influences, Shayna’s soul-infused sound has earned her accolades from publications such as the Village Voice (“retro R&B singer flows with rhythm,”) Time Out New York (“prodigious pipes”) and Good Times Magazine (“...a woman blessed with the chops to turn heads and make the music world take notice.")

Shayna was born in Sacramento, CA to U.S. Air Force parents, and spent seven years in Ramstein, Germany. Upon moving to Mississippi in 1985, Shayna sought refuge in music from her day-to-day as a bi-racial child in the deep south. She eventually moved to NYC, where she continued honing her sound.

Shayna’s performance of her song “Gone Under” with Grammy Award winning band Snarky Puppy on their live cd/dvd Family Dinner led to live performances with the band in 2014 at the North Sea Jazz Festival, France’s Nice Jazz Festival and the Estival Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Although Shayna has sung lead vocals for Moby and background vocals for artists ranging from Rihanna to Bette Midler, Lizz Wright to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kelly Clarkson and Natasha Bedingfield - the role of solo artist and band leader is where she belongs.

Stay tuned for her upcoming album Rise, coming January 2015!