Layah Jane

Layah Jane is Soul-Folk singer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She and her sister were raised by a psychotherapist/singer-songwriter father and a poet mother who teaches writing.

Though she took piano lessons as a child and attended an arts high school, she later resisted further formal training. She plays acoustic guitar and keyboards.

Layah has appeared at the Rochester International Jazz Festival, The Ottawa Folk Festival, Toronto Winterfolk Festival, Toronto City Roots Festival, North by Northeast Music Festival, Blue Skies Music Fest and New Music West. Her voice and songs have also been heard in The Dove Self Esteem Fund's 2006 "True Colors" TV Campaign, on Global TV's "Blue [...]", and on ESPN's "Tilt".

She has collaborated with a collection of Canada's finest musicians: Ben Riley (Bruce Cockburn), Mark Mariash (Ron Sexsmith, Sarah Slean), Bryden Baird (Feist), Mark McLean (Serena Ryder, Molly Johnson), Lyle Molzan (Jann Arden), Marc Rogers (K'naan, Philosopher Kings), Brian MacMillan (Kevin Hearn, Barenaked Ladies) and Burke Carroll (Kathleen Edwards) among others.

She was nominated for the 2008 Toronto Independent Music Award for Best Folk Artist, but lost to Angie Nussey

She tours with Oliver Johnson.

Discography

Layah Jane (2001)

Grievance and Gratitude (2005)

Grievance and Gratitude Remixes (2005)

Patience EP (2007)

Brightness & Bravery (2008)

Awards

CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award (2005)

Ontario Council of Folk Festival's Songs from The Heart Best Political Song Award (2005)

Toronto Independent Music Awards (Best Jazz, 2006)

Ontario Independent Music Award (Best Folk, 2007)

Ontario Independent Music Award (Best Female Artist, 2008)