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 hit single "Love Is Wicked". In February 2013, Nyanda released her first promotional single, "Trouble",[1] after announcing that she would be pursuing a solo career in music.[2] Her first official single, "Slippery When Wet", was released in September 2013. Nyanda continues her solo career, releasing music such as "Miss You" with Honorebel in 2025, and has reunited with Brick & Lace for new material as of 2024.[3][4]Early life
Nyanda Thorbourne was born to an African-American mother and a Jamaican father in Kingston, Jamaica.[5] She has 3 sisters, Tasha, Nailah (Nyla) and Candace Thorbourne.[6] Nyanda was raised in a Christian home and began her musical journey singing in church.[5] Nyanda went to Campion College High School during which time her group Brick & Lace was formed. After graduating high school, Nyanda studied Advertising & Theater at the University of Miami.[5]Nyanda's Career
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[7] / 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.[8]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".[1][2] 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.[9] "Trouble" entered UK Music Week's Top 30 Urban Club Charts in Week 7 (2013)[10] and remained in the charts for 7 Weeks,[11][12] peaking at No. 15.[13] Nyanda's first official single, "Slippery When Wet", was initially released as a free download through SoundCloud on March 8, 2013.[14] "Slippery When Wet" entered UK Music Week's Urban Club Charts in Week 27 (2013)[15] and remained in the Top 30 for 5 weeks,[16] peaking at No. 13.[17] 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.[18] In August 2013, Nyanda released the electro fueled house track,[19] "Cool & Deadly"[20] with South African DJs Euphonik and Fresh. "Cool & Deadly" was considered a South African Summer Anthem in 2013[21] 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"[22] 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.[23][24] Following her early solo releases, Nyanda continued to build her career with collaborations and new music. Notable works include features on tracks like "You Got Me Good" with Muss (2014), "Run Away" with Ian Thomas (2015), and "Wokie Wokie" with Mr. P (2018). In the 2020s, she released singles such as "All Fruits Ripe" featuring Stonebwoy (2021), "RIP Struggle Love" (2023), "Nthabiseng" (2024), and "Miss You" (February 2025), alongside collaborations like "Keep On Winning" with LNY TNZ (2025). These releases highlight her ongoing fusion of reggae, dancehall, and international sounds.[25]Bloodline
In 2010, Nyanda and her sisters formed the songwriting team Bloodline. They have written songs for Kelly Rowland,[26] including tracks for her studio sessions; for Christina Aguilera on "Around the World" (2012);[6] for Nicole Scherzinger on "Say Yes" (2011);[6] for Leah LaBelle on "Shotgun" (2012);[6] and for Arash on album tracks (2014).[6] In 2012, she co-wrote the gold-certified, chart topping single "Follow the Leader" by Wisin & Yandel featuring Jennifer Lopez.[6]Philanthropy
Reach a Hand Uganda (RAHU)
In February 2014, Nyanda was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Reach a Hand Uganda, a youth-led organization focused on empowerment and sexual reproductive health rights.[27] She supported the "It Takes Two" campaign, which aims to engage young men and women in the fight against gender-based violence, and featured on the official RAHU theme song "Your Ways" with Ugandan All-Stars, released in September 2014.[28]Discography
Singles
As lead artist
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | "Rodeo Wine" | Non-album singles |
| "Young & Alive" (with DJ LBR) | ||
| 2016 | "Keep Me Up All Night" (with Ripstar) | |
| 2015 | "The Way U Love" | |
| "All My Love" | ||
| "Put It on Me" | ||
| 2014 | "I Love Sax" (with Black Lion) | I Love Sax EP[29] |
| 2013 | "Slippery When Wet" | Slippery When Wet EP |
| "Cool & Deadly" (with Fresh and Euphonik as F.eU) | Cool & Deadly EP[30] | |
| "Trouble"[1] | Promotional single |
As featured artist
| Year | Title | BEL | SPA | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "Your Ways" (Nyanda & GNL, Ray Signature, Irene Ntale, Big Tril, Maurice Hasa)[28] | — | — | |
| 2013 | "You Got Me Good (Tu Es Ma Go)" (Muss feat. Nyanda)[31] | — | — | |
| 2013 | "Je Dis Oui" (Barbara Kanam feat. Nyanda)[32] | — | — | |
| 2013 | "Boom & Rave" (Black Lion feat. Mr. Vegas & Nyanda)[33] | — | — | Boom & Rave – EP |
| 2013 | "Like a Pro" (The Wizard feat. Nyanda & Chedda) | — | — | Like a Pro – EP[34] |
| 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) | — | — | |
| "Outta Control" (Admiral C4C feat. Nyanda) | — | — | ||
| 2016 | "Dancing Kizomba (The Kemist Remix)" (Alx Veliz feat. Nyanda) | — | — | Single only[35] |
| "Touch Me" (Jessy Matador feat. Nyanda) | — | — | Non-album single[36] | |
| "No Apologies (The Kemist Remix)" (JoJo feat. Wiz Khalifa & Nyanda) | — | — | Single only[37] | |
| 2018 | "Wokie Wokie"[38] (Mr. P feat. Nyanda) | – | – | Non-album single |
| 2019 | "Like Ya" (Jul feat. Nyanda) | Rien100rien réédition | ||
| 2020 | "Slow Down" (DolapoTheVibe feat. Nyanda) | — | — | Unanticipated[39] |
| 2021 | "All Fruits Ripe" (Nyanda & Brick & Lace feat. Stonebwoy) | — | — | Non-album single[40] |
| 2023 | "Your Body" (Magnito feat. DJ Bobby, Nyanda & Iyanya) | — | — | I Am Dodo[41] |
| "Keep On Winning" (LNY TNZ feat. Nyanda) | — | — | Non-album single[42] | |
| "Parapariparo remix" (Stanley Enow feat. Beniton & Nyanda) | — | — | Non-album single[43] | |
| 2025 | "Miss You" (Honorebel feat. Nyanda) | — | — | Non-album single[44] |
Non-singles
As lead artist
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "Cinnamon Roll" (feat. Dionne Renée)[45] | Black Lion Reggae Invasion Vol. 1 |
| "One More Time" (with The Kemist)[46] | ||
| "Footprints" (feat. Assassin)[47] | ||
| 2014 | "I Won't Take You Back" | Xleration Riddim – Single[48] |
As featured artist
| Year | Song | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "Mine Tonight" | Burna Boy (feat. Nyanda) | On A Spaceship |
| "Dangerous" | Pachanga (feat. Nyanda) | La Era Positivo | |
| 2014 | "Superman" | Arash (feat. Nyanda) | Superman |
| "Ma Bala" | Arash (feat. Nyanda) | Superman[49] |
Songwriting credits
| Year | Song | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "Club Saved My Life" | Wally Lopez featuring Brick & Lace and J Balvin | Follow Me![50] |
| "Shot Gun" | Brian Cross featuring Leah LaBelle | Pop Star – The Album[51][52] | |
| 2012 | "Follow the Leader" | Wisin & Yandel featuring Jennifer Lopez | Líderes |
| "Around the World" | Christina Aguilera | Lotus | |
| "Grenade" | Vincenzo featuring Brick & Lace | La Matrice[53] | |
| 2011 | "Say Yes" | Nicole Scherzinger | Killer Love |
| "This Time" (Sidney Samson Remix) | Kizzo featuring Bloodline | —[54] | |
| 2009 | "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" | A. R. Rahman and The Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger | Doll Domination |
| "Swat" | Brick & Lace | Birch – Military Riddim[55] | |
| 2007 | "Get That Clear (Hold Up)" | Love Is Wicked | |
| "Never Never" | |||
| "Don't Stop" | |||
| "Take Me Back" | |||
| "Why'd You Lie" | |||
| "Love is Wicked" | |||
| "Boyfriend" | |||
| "Push It Up" | |||
| "Buss A Shot" | |||
| "Mr. Officer" | |||
| "My Apple" | |||
| "U and Me" | |||
| 2006 | "Move Tonight" | Detrimental Riddim[56] | |
| "Nice 2 Meet U" | Frank n Dank featuring Brick & Lace | Nice 2 Meet U ('06 Version) 12"[57] | |
| 2005 | "Tonight" | Brick & Lace | Bionic Ras Riddim[58] |
| "Make Me Wanna Get Naughty" | Blink Riddim[59] |
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "All My Love"[60] | Alex Ceausu |
| "Put It On Me"[61] | Alex Ceausu | |
| 2014 | "Run Away"[62] | — |
| "Trouble"[63] | Eric Christian King | |
| "I Love Sax"[64] | Damian Fyffe | |
| "Mash It Up"[65] | — | |
| "You Got Me Good"[66] | — | |
| "Your Ways"[67] | — | |
| 2013 | "Slippery When Wet"[68] | — |
| "Like A Pro"[69] | — | |
| "Cool & Deadly"[22] | — | |
| 2017 | "Rodeo Wine" | — |
| "On My Way" (with Ricci K) | — |