Askyah’s musical journey began not on stage, but with a cassette tape. Her father gave her one labeled with her mother’s name and the song I Will Always Love You. The recording featured her mother’s own voice, captured during a sightseeing visit to Nashville where she had the chance to record herself singing. Askyah played the tape repeatedly, studying the phrasing and emotion, forming an early connection between music and family. That cassette became her constant companion and an early source of inspiration. Despite the intimidating legacy of powerhouse vocalists who would later influence her, she began performing in Kansas school talent shows. Life, including the loss of her mother and a move away from home, almost silenced her voice entirely. Her journey became about reclaiming it, turning influence into her own identity.
Today, Askyah’s sound blends those early influences with a unique, personal architecture. Drawing on the balladry of Whitney Houston and Celine Dion, the rhythm of Beyoncé and Nelly Furtado, and the soul of Brandy and Seal, she crafts songs that are emotionally layered and immersive. She experiments with silence, unexpected rhythms, and carefully layered sequences. “When I write my own lyrics over my production, the music starts to reflect my reality,” she explains. “My voice becomes most honest there.”
Adapting as an independent artist has required ingenuity. Noise restrictions in her apartment pushed her to create a home studio sanctuary, where she sits with a controller, microphone, and laptop. Training with DJ Nebraska strengthened her production skills, turning experimentation into intentional craftsmanship.
A formative and proud moment occurred after a talent show when she temporarily lost her hearing. The cause was simple, but the impact profound. That experience heightened her sensitivity to sound and listening. It instilled resilience and sharpened her studio focus, allowing her to ground her vocals even in imperfect environments.
Askyah builds direct connections with her audience. Through N1M, she engages over 2,000 fans, sharing previews, newsletters, and personalized messages. This fosters a supportive community, making her listeners active participants in her journey.
Her current focus is the release of Stairwell, an atmospheric, emotionally resonant track with an AI-assisted music video that visually mirrors its dreamlike quality. Over the next year, she aims to refine her sound further, emphasizing authenticity, emotional depth, and creative consistency over fleeting trends.
Askyah’s story is one of resilience, reclamation, and artistry. From a cassette tape to a fully realized studio vision, she has transformed inspiration, adversity, and careful craftsmanship into a voice that is unmistakably her own. In a crowded musical landscape, her music stands as a testament to listening, courage, and the enduring power of self-expression.