VanJess, comprised of Nigerian-American sisters Jessica and Ivana Nwokike, is the up and coming R&B dynamic duo. Growing up in Nigeria, the sisters participated in school plays and musicals and sang in their local church choir. At a young age they even began to write song. When the sisters moved to America, they continued their passion for music by creating a YouTube Page in 2009.
The duo used they’re YouTube page to create, define, and mold their own sound. While covering popular music, the sisters listened to other artists’ songs and figured out how their songs would best suit them. The duo grew up listening to a wide range of musicians and genres, but are heavily influenced by 90s R&B; however the duo credit their sound to the plethora of music knowledge they accumulated over the years. In addition to their musical knowledge, the Ivana and Jessica taught themselves to sing and play the piano and guitar, respectfully, by ear. Music is in their blood!
Over the years, their rise to YouTube stardom peaked the interest of artist J Cole, Ryan Seacrest, and Vibe and Essence Magazine. They’re first video went viral was their mash up of Thinking About You and Headlines. Vanjess’ YouTube popularity gave them opportunities to compete in NBC’s The Voice and VH1’s Make Or Break: The Linda Perry Project. While waiting for VanJess’ new EP to drop later this year, check out their SoundCloud Page and their debut album OO Till Escape, released in 2015, that charted on the iTunes top 10.
-Aferba Ashong
Reconnecting With R&B 