If there was ever a person you wouldn’t think needed to prove herself in music, it’s Jana Mashonee.  But she’d tell you “she’s not there yet.” With her unique, soaring vocal ability, outstanding accomplishments and countless industry accolades, Jana has earned her right to be a braggadocio.  But she’d probably laugh at the absurdity of that thought and instantly you’d want to be her best friend.  That’s just how down to earth Jana is, even with her many successes.
 
First signed to Curb Records, Jana’s single, Ooh, Baby, Baby was picked as Billboard’s single of the week and went on to become a radio and sales success. More than Life followed, selling over a million copies on its own and as part of numerous compilation albums. A controversial version of Led Zeppelin’s epic, Stairway to Heaven, came next, earning her another spot on the Billboard Dance charts.

But don’t assume Jana is just your cookie cutter pop starlet with a penchant for “four on the floor” beats.

In a desire to explore her heritage, Jana released American Indian Story, a brilliant concept album that garnered her second GRAMMY nomination. The video for the single, The Enlightened Time, won awards at major film festivals around the world as well as a NAMMY for Best Short Form Music Video. Music from the album was featured on Discovery Channel’s hit series, Flying Wild Alaska.

Her first book, American Indian Story – The Adventures of Sha’kona, based on the GRAMMY nominated album of the same was also recently completed. The fantasy filled mystery-adventure is the uplifting story of the young heroine, Sha’kona, and her journey of self-discovery and courage. Fans and critics alike have praised this young adult novel for its characters, magic and message.

Jana continued to pay tribute to her ancestry with the exquisite, American Indian Christmas, an extraordinary work featuring ten classic Christmas songs sung in ten different Native American languages accompanied by a full orchestra and traditional Native American instruments.  A critical and commercial success beyond her wildest imagination, the album won her another NAMMY award.  

With her cultural roots planted firmly in her music thus far, Jana decided to go in a different musical direction debuting A Change Is Gonna Come from her New Moon Born album at the American Indian Inaugural Ball. This was her second performance for a First Family. She sang at the First Lady’s Luncheon as well. The song went on to win her an eighth Native American Music Award for Song of the Year and the video took the Best Music Video prizes at the prestigious Indie Film Festival and at the American Indian Film Festival.  She was also named Best Female Vocalist by the Rockwired Music Awards.  

Jana has also co-headlined a sell-out show with Sarah McLachlan at Carnegie Hall for a magical evening.  Six months later she won her ninth NAMMY.

With all that Jana has achieved she still finds time to give back. Her Jana’s Kids Foundation has been helping Native youth achieve their dreams through its programs and scholarship offerings for almost as long as she has been an artist. In recognition of her efforts, Jana was named Woman of the Year for her philanthropic work.    

Jana’s even taken a stab at acting.  Jana co-starred with Lorenzo Lamas in her first film, The Dinosaur Experiment, which debuted in the summer of 2014 and became one of the top most rented films on Redbox.   Her songs are featured in The Dinosaur Experiment as well as in Crooked Arrow, another feature movie released in theatres across the country.

Every time we think we know everything about Jana Mashonee, she throws us a curveball filled with addictive surprises. And that’s exactly how she wants it.   

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