About Imani
Imani Jade is a talented, mystical young singer, songwriter and performer who has been crafting her own songs and live performances since she was young. With her other-worldly mystical voice she channels jazzy funk, old dirty blues, rootsy rock and melodic runs. Her sound follows the vein of Erika Badu and Alicia Keys, influenced by India Irie with a twist of Lauren Hill.
She has performed at many venues for the past 10 years — from jazz clubs to boutique performance spaces, and is well traveled. She is a lover of people, art, poetry and self-expression … greeting the open road to share her voice with the world.
Imani Jade is a creative force of nature, a singer, actress, performer and artist who is constantly evolving her art form.
Imani’s Journey
Imani Jade grew up in New York City and Brooklyn, attending a well-known Performing Arts High School for singing & acting. In the heart of NYC she was exposed to multicultural African drum circles and rock fusion summer performances in the park, broadway musicals, Funkadelic & Afro Punk shows all her life, influenced by jazz, the pulsing rhythm of loud Caribbean parades and city hip hop… as singing and music has always been her passion. In High School she moved to the midwest for 2 years to immerse herself in nature, permaculture, good food and a slower pace of living, where she developed her artistic crafts, walking barefoot while serenading friends and neighbors with her guitar and sultry, soulful vocals. She built and lived in a tiny house off-grid, and participated in many ceremonies with Indigenous and Elders wisdom keepers across the US, as she experimented with folk, rock and rootsy music genres and performed often in local venues. Adventure called again and she lived in Hawaii for a while, then went on the open road across the US to expand her horizons on her continued journey.
All her songs reflect experiences and interactions on her travels, her seeking spirit and continued quest for meaning, purpose, human connection, free expression and love for living life vibrantly.
Recent Performances
Singing, Poetry & Open Mike
- Numerous Shows at Coda Jazz ClubMadison, WI
Early Performances
Singing, Poetry & Open Mike
- Numerous Sessions With House Band:
Coda Jazz Cafe, Madison WI - Featured singer on Driftless Books 1st CD compilation
- Numerous Solo Performances & Opening Act (Natalie Gelman, Driftless Sisters & others): Driftless Books & Music, Viroqua WI
- Youth Initiative HS Fundraiser Coffee Hause; Valentine’s Dinner song performance; Martin Luther King day school event; Jam Band & Rock Band (Vocals); Youth Initiative HS, Viroqua WI
- Rock Band: Ark Center, Viroqua WI
- Truth Be Told: “Less is More” Personal Storytelling community event: performed personal life story, Viroqua, WI
- Social Justice community event: poem & personal story about being a mixed youth, Viroqua, WI
- Poetry slam event w/ Merlin Hepworth (Slam poet & rapper): sang & read poem, Viroqua, WI
- Viroqua County Fair: performed song duet Viroqua, WI 2015
- Open mike: Nashville, TN
Theater
- Shadow Box play, Beverly, Youth Initiative HS Viroqua, WI
- Peter Pan play, Pocahontas, Youth Initiative HS Viroqua, WI
- Romeo & Juliet, Friar John, Professional Performing Arts HS (PPAS), NYC
- BFF (scene), Eliza, Professional Performing Arts HS (PPAS), NYC
- Grease, Marty, New Voices MS, Brooklyn NY
- Oliver, gang, New Voices MS, Brooklyn NY
- Cinderella, Cinderella, Frost Valley, NY
- Ragtime, cast, Elementary School, Brooklyn NY
- Hairspray & High School Musical, scene, Beth Elohim, Brooklyn NY
- The WIZ, scene, YMCA, Brooklyn NY
Dance
- Danced onstage in Bklyn NY with: Wumi, African Dancer/Singer, Angelique Kidjo, African Singer, KRS One, Rapper
Training
Vocals
- Ilana Martin, Vocal Work Out Studios, NYC
- Various other vocal classes
Dance
- Mark Morris Dance Studio, Various teachers, Brooklyn NY
- Dancewave, Dedric Anthony/various teachers, Brooklyn NY
- Dance Major – Michael Kerr, New Voices MS, Brooklyn NY
Theater
- Waterwell: Acting Major, Professional Performing Arts HS, NYC
- Laurie Taylor-Williams/Stellar Mgmt, OneonOne, NYC
- David Doan/GenTV, OneonOne, NYC
- Joy Suprano from HBO, Broadway Workshop, NYC
- Sheila Gray, Sheila Gray Studios, NYC
Artwork
