Jahna Sebastian

Short Biography

Songwriter, producer, singer, performer, sound engineer, actress of Indian-Russian origins Jahna Sebastian, real name Zhanna Andrianova, was born in Moscow, Russia. Born on 12 June 1986, that day became a state holiday - the Day of Russia - to celebrate the new country born after the Revolution happened and communism had collapsed. Currently based in Croydon, Surrey. she started her career as an artist in Russia as a reggae singer - in 2004 at the age of 18, she immediately took the spot of the "Princess of Russian Reggae", rocking the stage at numerous venues and festivals of up to 15 000 people, performing on stage together with artists like Mad Professor, Uwe Bunton, Jah Meek etc. Jahna was singing an writing lyrics for bands like "Muzungu" (reggae), "Jah Soldiers"(reggae/hip hop) and "Clean Tone" (p-funk). As an opposition to ever growing neo-nazi movement and also being personally a subject to attempted threats and attacks of racists in Russia, Jahna formed reggae/hip hop band "Jah Soldiers" in autumn 2005. "Jah Soldiers" would perform songs by Jahna Sebastian with antifascist message like "How Come". In February 2006 bass-guitarist and drummer of "Jah Soldiers" were attacked by about 35 neo-nazi fascists on their way to Bob Marley Festival in Moscow half an hour before they were supposed to go on stage. This resulted in bass-guitarist suffering from serious head injuries and hospitalization. The police was reluctant in chasing the offenders and none of them have ever been jailed. Jahna cancelled all the shows by "Jah Soldiers" and even her birthday party that year was held at a secret location where herself and her fellow artists like "Jah Division" performed. Jahna has also been featured on the first ever reggae dancehall radio program in Russia with members of DaBudz. "Leave It Up" – album recorded at that time with "Muzungu" was officially released on CD to major record stores in Russia in 2009 through Navigator Records. She moved to London in 2006 as it started to get more dangerous for her as a mixed-race artist with social themes to live and perform in Russia. Jahna has been exposed to music from very young age, from singing in a choir while attending prestigious kindergarten of Bolshoy Theatre, to starting to play her first instrument at the age of 8 - she joined children's orchestra which played at major concert halls in Russia. Playing domra (