GREENWICH, Conn. – Call it luck or fate, Jana Mashonee, Lumbee, landed her big break when a Motown record producer heard her singing a variety of rhythm and blues, rock and oldies with a band during her college years.
The psychology graduate, now 26, greeted the exec with skepticism, but eventually headed to the studio to record a demo tape. “I thought that he was joking with me,” she said. “I wasn’t necessarily thinking about singing as a career.”
To her surprise, record executives liked what they heard and she went on to record three dance-mix singles with Curb Records. Her 2002 release of “Stairway to Heaven” skyrocketed to No. 8 on the Billboard dance chart, a first for a Native in this category. She also captured a Native American Music Award for best single of the year, bringing her current NAMMY count to three awards.
This year’s NAMMYs, June 8 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood, Fla., could mark Jana’s biggest year yet, as she was nominated for two awards – Artist of the Year and Record of the Year, and her recording team for Best Producer(s).
In 2005, Jana released the rhythm and blues-flavored album “Flash of the Firefly” on the independent Radikal Records label, followed by her Christmas release of “American Indian Christmas,” featuring 10 tracks sung in different Native languages and released by the Standing Stone label, a division of Four Directions Media Inc. (Indian Country Today is owned by Four Directions Media Inc.)
Elegant, exotic and sexy characterize Jana’s stunning look, yet charismatic, talented and entertaining sum up her high-energy performances.
And her hard work has been reaping benefits.
In April, she was asked to perform at the First Lady’s Luncheon in Washington, D.C. About 2,000 politicians, dignitaries, former Supreme Court justices and assorted movers and shakers attended the luncheon. “It was really an honor to sing for the first lady,” Jana said.
Each year the event raises money for a different charity. For the first time in the event’s 94-year history, as signaled by the theme, “The First Americans” were honored. Some $25,000 raised from the event was earmarked for donation to the United National Indian Tribal Youth program. “It was nothing political; it was just nice to honor the first lady and her position. She’s a lovely lady, a very down-to-earth person.”
UNITY, based out of Oklahoma, implements various programs that empower and unify American Indian and Alaska Native youths on a spiritual, social and psychological level. Jana said she was involved with the program in her youth and currently supports it.
Since the release of her two albums last year, Jana has been on the move, touring across the United States. She just wrapped up her tour in March, but various performances are scheduled for the remaining year, in addition to cutting at least two new albums.
She expects her album, featuring traditional gospel hymns, to be released by the end of June. Tracks will be sung in Native languages and English, and will feature well-known hymns such as “I Surrender All,” “The Lord’s Prayer” and “Amazing Grace.” Jana grew up going to church, and it’s where she first caught the singing bug.
Meanwhile, she is writing songs for an album geared toward traditional Native styles, with September as the tentative release date. And as she already set the tone, she plans on singing each song in a different language. “I think it’s important to give your fans different sides of who you are.”
By the end of the year Jana plans on combining the tracks on “Flash of the Firefly” with new songs for an album that will appeal to the mainstream market. She will also start work on a new dance single.
In retrospect, “Stairway to Heaven” prepared Jana for obstacles she would face as a recording artist. When radio stations refused to play her song, she worked around it by promoting it at nightclubs. “For a couple of weeks I outsold Madonna,” she said. “But it still didn’t get the airplay it deserved.”
As a Native artist, Jana said she has heard her share of stereotypes and has resisted the suggestions that go against her self-generated image. “People have a perception of what a Native artist should be. We are also contemporary, not everyone is walking around in buckskin and feathers.”
As an individual and a Native woman, Jana’s heritage is reflected in her music and in her involvement with UNITY. She also visits Native schools often to discuss tough issues students face each day. This is her program, “Jana’s Kids,” which intertwines her music with a motivational speech on cultural pride, identity and peer pressures, and she opens the floor for students to discuss their feelings on topics such as smoking or alcohol and drug use.
“Native youth may appear passive, but they have a lot to say. We need to listen to them more and not shut them down.”
The Jana’s Kids program also raises scholarship funds for students who excel in the academic, artistic or athletic arenas.
Fans can also order Native jewelry on her Web site, each piece handcrafted by her. To purchase a compact disc or jewelry, and for more information on Jana, visit www.jananation.com.
