Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Sunday, October 2nd, 2016
New York (TADIAS) — “I wanted to capture a day in the life of a young person thriving in Addis — where they might live or go to unwind, or how they might fall in love,” says Wayna regarding her latest music video entitled Amazing, which was filmed in Ethiopia’s capital earlier this year and released online last week.
The Ethiopian-born Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter who is based in Washington DC says: “We often see love stories told in the context of cities like New York or Paris; this is a testament to the beauty of Addis Ababa, which has its own unique personality.”
Wayna in Addis Ababa. (Courtesy photo)
Wayna shot the video while residing for three months and performing in Ethiopia this past year, with the song Amazing featuring the theme of new love in the streets of Addis Ababa. According to announcement “the reggae and hip hop-infused song is produced by DC-based beatmaker SlimKat78 and mixed by multi-Grammy award winning engineer Russell Elevado (D’Angelo, Angelique Kidjo).”
Wayna first worked as a writer in the Clinton White House before leaving to pursue music, and has since released three albums including Higher Ground that was nominated for the 2009 Grammy Awards in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance Category. In addition, the Ethiopian American R&B singer has performed at various prestigious venues “across the US and abroad including shows at the Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Essence Fest, the White House, the Blue Note and Blues Alley,” states the artist’s website. “In 2015, she joined the iconic Stevie Wonder as a supporting vocalist and soloist in his live band, touring extensively with the Songs In the Key of Life Tour and in various performances throughout the US and Canada.”
Wayna’s music video Amazing was shot in Ethiopia by director Elias Wondemu (Mehari Brothers, Fikreaddis Nekatibeb).
Watch: “Amazing” by Wayna — Music Video ‘Amazing’ Filmed in Ethiopia