Nyla

Kingston, Jamaica-born singer Nyla Thorbourne discovered her voice in her local church. She joined Jamaica's Music Theatre Company for four years, which ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in music. In 2004, she formed reggae/R&B act Brick & Lace alongside her sisters Nyanda and Tasha, which regularly performed in and around Kingston. When they finished high school, however, they made a move to Miami, at which point Tasha left the group, making them a duo. Brick & Lace signed to Akon's Kon Live label and released their debut album, Love Is Wicked, in 2007, followed by a string of hits including "Done It to Me," "Never Never," and "Take Me Back." They also toured internationally, opening for Gwen Stefani on her Sweet Escape Tour. In 2011, Brick & Lace took an extended hiatus with the promise of a new album to be released independently at some point in the future. Around the same time, Nyla, Nyanda, and Tasha teamed up with another of their sisters, Candace, to form Bloodline, a songwriting team who were responsible for composing songs for high-profile artists, including "I'm Into You" and "Follow the Leader" for J-Lo, "Around the World" for Christina Aguilera, and "Say Yes" for Nicole Scherzinger. Brick & Lace disbanded as each sister wished to explore solo opportunities. Nyla's solo material utilized a similar combination of pop, R&B, and reggae. Over the course of her career, she released the singles "Stand Up," "Body Calling," "Selecta," and a collaboration with dancehall artist Redsan, "Touch Me There." She worked with a number of Jamaican producers along the way, such as Noah Issa, Jus Eazy, Corey Chase, and Mucka Hill. In 2015, Nyla worked with globally recognized electronic/dancehall act Major Lazer on the track "Light It Up" that saw release in 2016, and once again asserted her presence in music charts worldwide. ~ Liam Martin, Rovi