Proclaimed as one of the “purest contemporary voices” by National Public Radio, powerhouse Amikaeyla Gaston embraces the best of many types of music. MTV has described her sultry sound as “like listening to a velvet waterfall,” and her soulful, roots-jazz flavor captures the listener with dynamic passion and enchanting sincerity. She has received national attention and a multitude of music awards, including Best Jazz Vocalist, Best Urban Contemporary Vocalist, Best World Music Vocalist, and Best Debut Artist, and was named Washington, DC’s Best Female Composer in 2006, 2008, and 2011 for excellence in original composition. She has performed, recorded, and traveled the world touring with many award-winning artists such as Take 6, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Babatunde Olatunji, Mickey Hart, Pete Seeger, Esperanza Spalding, and Sheila E. She is the founder and executive director of the International Cultural Arts & Healing Sciences Institute and a cultural ambassador for the US State Department.