niyoki

www.myspace.com/niyoki

NIYOKI (pronounced Nie-oh-kee): Her powerful name foretold her purpose in life. Her mother, who teaches high school students French and Spanish, gave each of her children meaningful names and this daughter was set on a path of purpose. NIYOKI means “serious minded and responsible” and this anointed songstress is serious about her commitment to spreading the gospel through song. With “MY EVERYTHING,” her solo debut as a gospel artist, NIYOKI is clear that she has been preparing for this project her entire life. This PK (Preacher’s Kid) who was raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, began singing at the tender age of six years old. She comes from gospel’s The White Family, who not only sang for years all around the country, but also recorded five albums. Over time, Niyoki gleaned important vocal and performance skills, and has put this excellent training to good use. After years with the family’s gospel group, Niyoki and her sisters decided to venture out on their own, even changing management, a role previously filled by their parents. That act of rebellion took them into the world of R&B as “MILENIA,” where they worked with such stellar talents as Boyz II Men and Prince, who would change their lives. “We got to work with Prince in so many different ways. We worked in the studio, doing all of his background vocals. We toured with him and we had the opportunity to be featured in his concerts. It was such an amazing experience. Prince was such a master musician and he taught us so much. He taught me how to control my voice. I was used to riffing and using my voice in elaborate ways. He taught me the simplicity of singing and how best to use my voice as an instrument. A lot of people might look down on this part of my life, but God is always working everything out for the good of those that love Him.” While it sounds like the beginnings of an illustrious career in music, it was really the first of many false starts. “We would have people say they were going to sign us and then nothing would happen. Prince was excited about us, but nothing happened. After a while, it got very discouraging for us. I just stopped singing. I have to be honest. I was crushed by so many ‘close call’ moments.” The college-educated singer decided to just step back and in doing so, she stepped out of God’s way. “I really started to question my purpose; therefore I also realized that I couldn’t sit still anymore. As God would have it, Ralph Stacy reached out to me about doing a song with him. I told him that I would only be interested in doing something gospel, something meaningful. He suggested that we write something and that just started me on a path that would forever change my life.” That step was an adventure, since Niyoki had never written songs before, but once she got started, she entered a new realm. “I started writing and really became excited about a new message and about getting back to what I now know I was called to do. I didn’t know that I could write or arrange because before songs were given to us. God shocked my socks off!” “My Everything,” her debut project, includes songs that she wrote and produced, and uses to minister to those who are learning, have learned or want to learn to lean on God’s promises. “‘If it had not been for the Lord on my side, where would I be?!’ That is my testimony and that is all over this project. He knows what’s best. It’s in his timing, not ours and I pray that people can understand that.” After meeting and being spiritually encouraged by her now-husband/manager Clarence Nero (“He was just so loving and so passionate about my voice. He pushed me to sing, again.”), Niyoki knew it was time to spread the gospel, on purpose. This time, she was prepared to give her everything. Songs like “He’s Here,” “Praise Time” and “Be Ready,” all show Niyoki’s resurrected vigor for music and singing. Working with fellow Indiana-based producer Floyd Thomas (“he was just so cool, and so talented.), Niyoki started to shape her new sound: MY EVERYTHING: “God is ‘my everything.’ This song represents the fullness of my life, my experiences, my blood, sweat and tears. IT JUST FELT GOOD! That’s why I named the cd “My Everything.” The melodies or the words, the scriptures would just pour into my heart. HE’S HERE: “It’s a feel good song to the bones. It’s about the fundamental truth that God is here. He’s closer than anybody. He’s never going to leave you nor forsake you.” PRAISE TIME: “I wanted a praise church song. I just wanted a song where I knew no matter what, we could have church!” BE READY: “It’s a warning. We need to get it together and the Word is true. Life, as we know it, isn’t going to go on forever and we have to make things right and live our lives in right order.” The true standout track on the project brings Niyoki full circle. She performs “AMAZING GRACE” with her father, who is a pastor, a song that she sang with him when she was a youngster. “My mom, who always wrote and did so much with our family’s music, did a new arrangement. It was a magical opportunity.” The power of this project is daunting. While she is often worn out by the work of being so involved, it’s worth it. “I was so impacted by doing a radio interview and the DJ played ‘TURN IT OVER’ and then we took some calls. A lady called in SOBBING and she was late for church. Because she was late, she heard the song. Her daughter had died and she was still struggling through the loss. The song really touched her spirit in order to get through the anniversary of her daughter’s death. She cried. I cried. The realization that someone was impacted by a song that I wrote to encourage myself left an impacting impression on me.” “God’s Grace has really kept me with this project. It’s like I have offered my soul with this and after I got excited about singing again, I started really getting sick a lot this year. My faith in God and relationship with God has grown so strong this year. I had my first anxiety attack a year ago, which seemed to me to be crazy since I’ve been singing in front of people since I was 6. I have been almost blind, for no discernable reason, right before going onstage and God would return my vision just as I was taking the stage. My body was stricken with illness after I felt that I was on track and finally in His will. This experience has taught me to have a genuine and deeper reliance on God, especially in situations that are out of my control. I know that God is getting me ready for a great work ahead. And I know that because He is with me, I can face any obstacle that comes my way! I have learned that He may not rid us of every problem that we face right away, but as Paul says in II Corinthians 12: ‘His grace is sufficient for me’, so He will give his grace to get through any and all hard times.” That’s why this serious-minded and loving woman of purpose and responsibility didn’t just offer the world a project. NIYOKI gives you, in this anointed collection of songs called MY EVERYTHING, her everything, indeed.