The Bloom Effect Reports: Grammy Nominated R&B Singer/Songwriter Wayna Arrested at Houston Airport

The Bloom Effect Reports: Grammy Nominated R&B Singer/Songwriter Wayna Arrested at Houston Airport

NEW YORK, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- This statement responds to reports that police arrested Ethiopian-born, D.C.-based artist, Wayna at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Wednesday, March 25th. That morning, the 2009 Grammy nominated artist, had just completed a mini Texas tour including a stop at one of the biggest music festivals in the world, South by South West (SXSW) and was en route to Miami to attend the Winter Music Conference. While attempting to pass security, she was questioned by airport security about the prop she uses on stage to perform a song about police brutality called "Billy Club" off of her critically-acclaimed sophomore album Higher Ground. In a rush to get to the airport, she inadvertently packed the item in a carry-on bag. Despite explaining to the circumstances, she was nonetheless arrested and charged on a 3rd degree felony weapons charge. She was released early Thursday morning on $5,000 bail.

Wayna wishes to thank her friends, fans, family and supporters for their concern over this incident. Spending over 14 hours in jail has been exhausting for her especially given the irony of the situation in that she uses the baton to sing about one of the worst kind of negative encounters one could have with police, though certainly her experience was in no way as severe. With no criminal history, she never thought she'd be jailed over an innocent mistake. Certainly, the experience has given her a new perspective on the themes she portrays in her music.

Wayna is a singer-songwriter who hails from the DC urban soul underground music scene and regularly infuses socially conscious, political and empowering lyrics in her music. She was nominated for a 2009 Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative performance for a remake of Minnie Riperton's Loving You. The University of Maryland alumnus has tackled other controversial topics such as domestic violence. Her song My Love, debuted at # 2 and #18 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles and Hot Singles Sales chart respectively. The video for the song received nearly 100,000 plays on YouTube and MySpace combined and can be seen on MusicChoice and BET Jazz. Wayna worked as a writer in the Clinton White House before launching her music career full time. She has performed on national stages worldwide and has received critical acclaim from Essence, Billboard.com, OkayPlayer.com and music icon Stevie Wonder.

Report #: 120886401010

CONTACT: Fiona Bloom of The Bloom Effect, +1-646-764-0004, fiona@thebloomeffect.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: The Bloom Effect

CONTACT: Fiona Bloom of The Bloom Effect, +1-646-764-0004,
fiona@thebloomeffect.com

---

Profile: International Entertainment