the first notes
Born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Tiyonna Amani Stewart showed promise at a very young age. She sung her first notes at three years old — and soon after, began performing in local churches. Traveling back and forth throughout the Tri-State Area for school, auditions, and training, Tiyonna was influenced by New York City and New Jersey. Recognitions of her raw talent began early on — by the age of 10, Tiyonna had performed at Carnegie Hall and won the New York Knicks’ Talent Search Competition at Madison Square Garden.
Middle school saw the beginnings of Tiyonna’s passion for musical theatre: she shone in school productions of Annie, Into the Woods, and Guys and Dolls. In her eighth grade year, Tiyonna performed at Carnegie Hall for a second time — and a year later, sung “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables at President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Ball. Years of bullying had made Tiyonna a wallflower, and songwriting, poetry, and Stephen Sondheim were homes for her in moments she doubted she might ever find one. After turning inward, she looked onward — to a future in the arts.
discovering ámani
Pictured with After School Pop Stars Shot by Dee Stewart
When Tiyonna started her freshman year at Union High School in New Jersey, her double life was already in full swing. During school hours, she dove into the award-winning Union High School Performing Arts Company (“UHSPAC”), leading several productions such as The World Goes Round, Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat (Best Musical, Paper Mill Playhouse), Beauty and the Beast, Cabaret, and Putting it Together. Outside of school, Tiyonna engaged in intensive artist development with girl group “GPOW”, founded by Zelma Davis of C&C Music Factory. In 2013, she began classes at the Berklee College of Music.
After “GPOW” disbanded, Tiyonna took the reins on her solo career — but after working with accomplished producers, she realized she was being pigeonholed into an industry blueprint. “I began adapting to what others thought of me, and who they wanted me to become. In 2015, I said "‘no” to everything: collaborators, continuing at Berklee, and the music industry.”
In the year that followed, Tiyonna taught vocal technique and performance at the Institute of Music for Children in Elizabeth, New Jersey — and in October of 2017, released her debut single “Selfless” under her newfound artist name: Ámani. “Selfless”, an anthem for the process of becoming, has 300K streams across Spotify, Apple Music, and Soundcloud.
On May 11, 2018, Ámani became the first person in her family to graduate college with a degree in Professional Music, emphasis on Business, Marketing, and Songwriting. Soon after, she moved to Los Angeles, California and released her debut EP, “tbh.”
where we are
For five years, Ámani has been building a life on the West Coast — balancing the pursuit of artistic dreams and the realities of student loans, rent, and Uber expenses.
Her early years in LA included teaching at White Hall Arts Academy, starring in Deante Grey’s Loving Byron (2020 REMI Winner, Houston International Film Festival), and co-founding Los Angeles-based artist collective “The Homiez.” More importantly, they included stretches of self-doubt, Earth-shaking changes, and unmatched growth.
Today, Ámani continues to investigate the human condition through the art of songwriting, develop musical projects, sing Sondheim at full volume, perform at venues around Los Angeles, and most importantly — grow into the artist and human being her inner child would be proud of.
Her latest single, “Reason,” drops on July 29, 2023.
