Imani Wj Wright
Imani Wj Wright | |
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Born | Baltimore, Maryland | October 14, 1998
Nationality | American |
Citizenship | United States of America |
Alma mater |
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Occupation | |
Years active | 2017-Present |
Organization |
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Known for | Critiques by SwanoDown |
Relatives | Clinton "Buddy" Wike (Cousin) |
Website | swanodown |
Imani Wj Wright (born 14 October 1998) is an American singer-songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and multimedia journalist.[1][2] He is the founder of SwanoDown, a clothing line, blog, and production company that incorporates concepts of idealism, virtuosity, and progression in its products. Wright specializes in R&B and soul music and is best known musically for his song 'So I Thought'.[3][4]
Wright is widely recognized for his music blog, Critiques by SwanoDown, that comprises several articles based on a wide range of genres including R&B, Pop, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Rock.[5] Wright has collaborated with several artists such as H.E.R., Mark Pelli, Mr.Dalvin, and other renowned personalities in the industry while writing for his blog.[6] He is also a contributing writer at The Afro-American Newspapers and a former writer for The Baltimore Times. He's also been featured in Forbes India.[7]
Wright has been the recipient of a Johns Hopkins Outstanding Performance Award.[8]
Early life and education
Wright was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998.[9] Wright was inclined towards music from a very young age and started practicing when he was 3 years old. During his high-school years, at Carver Center for Arts and Technology, Wright was even voted Male Singer of the year.[10][11]
He was offered a scholarship based on his talent by the Peabody Institute of John Hopkins University, where he received intense private lessons in Voice, Piano, and Music Theory.[12] Wright also studied with the Washington National Opera, under their Opera Institute.
Wright studied at the Lyric Opera House of Baltimore, where he wrote an opera titled "Industrial Love."
Career
Wright commenced his career in 2017 when he founded his music label, I Wright Music, and founded SwanoDown, an online apparel store. In 2018, Wright became a music critic at Stereo Stickman, an independent online music magazine based in London. Wright worked for over a year with this magazine contributing to several featured articles and interviews. In the same year, Wright also wrote for The Baltimore Times.
Wright was appointed as an entertainment specialist at the Afro-American Newspapers in 2019. The Afro-American Newspapers is a leading media outlet that focuses on sharing the accomplishments of people of color and covers a range of topics from the Black perspective.[13]
Wright has performed in over ten cities across the USA and has interacted with famous artists including Travis Scott, Pusha T, and Khalid.[14] In 2019, he also did a headlining show at the Kennedy Center, reflecting the essence of Opera, Jazz, and R&B music.[15] This performance was later selected to be apart of the Kennedy Center's Black Culture Matters campaign, at the beginning of 2020.[16]
Wright has performed at notable venues and concert series in the United States, including SOB's in New York City and Ram's Head Live! in Baltimore. He has also performed at Sofar Sounds shows in cities like Tampa Bay, Denver, Chicago, and Calgary. Wright made his TV debut on MTV with his single "Home."
Wright is also a TED Speaker. He shared his views on the intermingling of music and writing at York College of Pennsylvania. This talk focused on highlighting some of the keys to breaking writer's block, and the subtle prejudice involved with being a Black writer.[17]
Awards
- Recipient of Johns Hopkins Outstanding Performance Award.[18]
- Honored by the Lyric Opera House of Baltimore for writing the storyline of an opera titled "Industrial Love"
Discography
S.No. | Title | Released |
---|---|---|
1 | Lady[19] | 2017 |
2 | Started[20] | 2017 |
3 | Unplanned | 2017 |
4 | Appreciation | 2017 |
5 | Consistency[21] | 2017 |
6 | Coffee Cup | 2018 |
7 | Envy | 2018 |
8 | No Fair[22] | 2018 |
9 | Home | 2018 |
10 | So I thought[23] | 2019 |
11 | Lately | 2019 |
12 | "Imani Wj Wright Live at The Kennedy Center[24] | 2020 |
In the media
Gallery
References
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright". WMAR. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright x Shiloh releases a slow rap track called "Dynasty Envy" – Reignland". Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Music Publication "Critiques by SwanoDown" focuses on music and fashion". Vents Magazine. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright Releases 'So I Thought'". CelebMix. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Music Publication "Critiques by SwanoDown" focuses on music and fashion". MarketWatch. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Method Man & Redman, Live: An Onstage Perspective". Stereo Stickman. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright - Creating A Wonderful Rhapsody Of Words And Notes By Blending A Successful Career In Journalism And Music". Forbes India. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "BMOREART'S PICKS: BALTIMORE ART OPENINGS, GALLERIES, AND EVENTS JULY 10 - 16". BmoreArt. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright". www.submithub.com. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Maryland Music Maker Gets Inspiration From Family". The Washington Informer. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Baltimore music maker inspired by his father and grandfather". The Baltimore Times, Inc. Positive Stories. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright's Biography | Muck Rack". muckrack.com. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "'Lately' - Imani Wj Wright". A&R Factory. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright – Live At The Kennedy Center | Sleeping Bag Studios". sleepingbagstudios.ca. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright". www.kennedy-center.org. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Thinking Outside of X". Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright Drops, "So I Thought"". Alchemical Records. 29 August 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright". SoundCloud. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright R&B/Soul". Shazam. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ Doukakis, Christos (12 September 2020). "Future Soul – 16". Last Day Deaf. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ Odutola, Tayo (4 May 2018). "The Slice, Episode 3 [Urban Feature]". EARMILK. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Imani Wj Wright – So I Thought | Kaiku studios berlin". www.kaikustudios.com. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
- ↑ "Zxyla (feat. Muammar Muhammad & 4tae) (Live)". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2 October 2020.