User talk:Songbird1000

Alisha-Farai Yasmin Douglas-Chikanya was born on 19th October 1989 and raised in the London Borough of Islington to Zimbabwean mother, Farah Chikanya and her Jamaican father. Singer-songwriter, Chikanya, had an early grasp on melody and harmonies and wrote her first song, I Got A Crush, aged 8. She attended Islington Arts & Media secondary school where she performed in numerous musicals and concerts, stage performances and competitions. At 15, she won a coveted poetry and prose writing award, which led to a role in a 2005 Channel 4 short film. Alisha volunteered as a school peer mediator, doing such things as supporting victims of bullying and settling disputes between rival parties. When Bigga Fish visited the school, Chikanya became involved in a Nationwide anti-bullying music project. This included writing and composing a mix-tape that was distributed around all inner-city schools. Alisha impressed her music teachers with her very first recorded song, No More, which was included on the IAMS leaving CD. Alisha has said her musical influences range from Aaliyah to Sam Cooke. Whilst at Arts & Media, she attracted the attention of casting agents who employed her in the academy award nominated film, Notes On A Scandal, starring Dame Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Alto singer Alisha joined local gospel choir, New Ye. They subsequently toured the UK, performing and creating online videos. Next came a stint as the third member of a London-based girl group with strong industry interest. The group disbanded before signing to a record label. After gaining 10 GCSEs, her passion for performance continued at City & Islington college, followed by Westminster University where she's writing for herself and also up-and-coming artists.