Alysha Brilla, 3-time Juno Award nominated Canadian artist, singer-songwriter and producer believes sound has the power to heal. Drawing from her Tanzanian heritage, she channels the transformative power of music in a unique blend of pop, reggae and jazz.
The only woman ever to be nominated for multiple Juno Awards (the Canadian Grammys), she now joins a stellar lineup at the Mariposa Folk Festival. This includes Begonia, Diyet and the Love Soldiers, Ginalina and the John Prine Band. They will play in tribute to the legendary folk singer John Prine, who passed away in 2020.
Alysha Brilla: strictly independent artist
Brilla signed a major record deal at Lava Records/Universal Republic in 2010. But since she’s opted to self-release and produce all her music on her own label, Sunny Jam Records. For her, this has been key to staying true to herself and expressing her singular talent and purpose. “The things that I was told, when I was with a major label, that would never sell and I should hide, are the things that, as an independent artist, connect me to my fans the most,” she says. This spirit shines through in Brilla’s rousing song Bigger than That:
In 2012, Brilla released her debut album Brilla. The following year she released In My Head, receiving a Juno Award Nomination for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year. 2014 saw her win Oktoberfest Woman of the Year, and a UK songwriting contest for her track Never Gonna Get Me Back.
2014’s Womyn also received a Juno Nomination. In 2015, Brilla won the International Songwriting Contest in the lyric category for her song Immigrant.
2016, 2017 and 2022 saw the albums Human, Rooted and Circle, also nominated for a Juno Award. Brilla brings her eclectic repertoire and blend of harmonic vocals, guitar, tabla, bansuri and horns across the globe. She’s performed throughout Australia, Canada, South America, Europe and Asia.
Multicultural roots drive Alysha Brilla’s work
Running through Brilla’s work is a strong connection to her roots and a deep exploration of identity. Born in Ontario, Canada, Brillo’s mother is an Irish-Scottish Canadian teacher and her father an Indo-Tanzanian musician. After briefly dropping out of school, Brilla received her father’s acoustic guitar on her 14th birthday. She taught herself how to play and has been producing and releasing music ever since.
Brilla’s father played in a few bands in his hometown Dar Es Salaam. Brilla’s unique style in fact reflects her father’s love for Afro, World, and Jazz music. She enlists the help of her father when incorporating Swahili lyrics into her songs. Brilla describes her sound as a mix of her favorite artists – Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse and Selena Perez. Miriam Makeba also ranks as a big influence.
Alysha Brilla plays Mariposa Folk Festival
The legendary folk festival now returns for its 61st year in July. Monumental artists including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Neil Young have played in previous years.
Brilla will not be one to miss. “My live shows are engaging, they are soulful and they are fun. I tell stories and get the audience involved,” she says.
Her newest album Circle drops in July, an album “ripe with messages of personal and global healing, music to soothe the heart and uplift the soul.”
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