Meet Ayoni Thompson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayoni Thompson.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Ayoni. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I always loved music but didn’t begin learning to play until I learned piano at 8. I began writing around the same time, when I was living in Singapore. Music isn’t a big part of my family’s life and so it was only when my uncle visited us in Norcal where we moved from the UK, that he introduced me to Adele and my first musical love began. 19 changed my life immediately as did music from Sara Bareilles and The Script at the time. I spent my childhood in a vacuum, growing up in America, Singapore, and Indonesia. I wasn’t very influenced by American music, or much popular music at all until I was in my teens, to be honest. Since, I’ve fallen for Bon Iver, Lorde, SZA, Frank Ocean, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Patrice Rushen and so many more.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This road has definitely been bumpy but I think lows make for more glorious highs. At first, when I first moved out to LA a couple of years ago, I struggled to get up to speed with the industry. My first year here, at 18 I was doing sessions, arranging for my band for the first time, and learning how to perform music without the crutch of piano or guitar one I’d had for nearly a decade. I was super grateful to learn what working as a songwriter would entail, but I also was scared and unsure if I was doing well and what to expect. The process gave me a lot of confidence in my craft and helped me meet so many talented musicians, but it was also an adjustment. Studio nights can last forever and that was sometimes hard to balance with school. Learning how to own my space, but also how to protect myself and my art, and advocate for myself is still something I’m working through, but it’s been a joy and definitely the most important lesson I will keep learning.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am Ayoni. I’m 19, about to turn 20, and I’m a songwriter, artist, and producer (in progress). I’m working on my debut project Iridescent, and will be releasing my debut single Divine, very very soon. I’ve been working on these songs are nearly 2 years old and I’ve spent over a year working on the production with my co-producer Jesse Munsat. I like to think I create beautiful art that is unique in its sound and honesty. I feel like I’ve studied every rise and dip that ever crossed Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, or Aretha Franklin’s lips, and I think that really taught me how to sing and move people. There’s a level of fearlessness and commitment necessary to move a crowd and bring them into your experience and that’s something the greats made me want to learn how to do. Once this project is out, I can’t wait to experience it.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Travelling.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/ayonimusic
• Twitter: twitter.com/ayonimusic

Image Credit:
All Images Shot By: Caleb Griffin

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