Inaya Day

Inaya Day, born Inaya Davis on January 17, 1977, in Brooklyn, New York, began her musical journey singing in church from a young age. She honed her talents at the prestigious High School of Music and the Performing Arts, later pursuing musical theater studies at the University of Bridgeport. Her early career also included a notable presence on Broadway, where she served as an understudy for Stephanie Mills as “Dorothy” in “The Wiz,” eventually stepping into the lead role for performances in Washington, D.C., and St. Louis, Missouri. Her foundation in diverse musical environments prepared her for a versatile career across various genres.

Throughout her career, Day has been a prolific session musician and songwriter, contributing her vocal and compositional skills to numerous prominent artists. She has appeared on tracks for industry figures such as Michael Jackson, Al Green, Puff Daddy, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Big Daddy Kane, and Jonathan Butler. Her songwriting credits include work for Randy Crawford and Bootsy Collins. A significant milestone in her songwriting came with Missy Elliott’s “Gossip Folks” from the “Under Construction” album, where Day co-wrote the hook and provided backing vocals, underscoring her influence behind the scenes.

Day’s entry into house music in 1996 marked a turning point, leading to significant chart success. Her collaboration with German producers Boris Dlugosch and Mousse T resulted in the dance single “Keep Pushin’,” which reached No. 2 on the Billboard dance charts. She also provided chorus vocals for Mousse T’s “Horny,” which, with additional vocals from Hot ‘N’ Juicy, became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard dance chart. Her cover of “Nasty Girl” by Vanity 6 achieved top 20 status in Australia and No. 9 in the UK in 2005. She consistently charted highly, with “Can’t Stop Dancing” reaching No. 1 on the Billboard club play chart, and “Movin’ Up” reaching No. 2, solidifying her reputation as a powerhouse vocalist in the dance music scene. She also owns and operates her own label, Ny-O-Dae Music, releasing her own productions with an animated music video for “Joyful Life”.