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Inaya Day
Inaya Day
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Key Information

Inaya Day (born Inaya Davis, January 17, 1977) is an American singer, best known for her vocal work on house music tracks such as "Horny '98" by Mousse T, and her cover version of "Nasty Girl" by Prince protégées Vanity 6.[1]

Biography

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Early career

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Day started singing in church in Brooklyn, New York. She attended the prestigious High School of Music and the Performing Arts,[2] and went on to study musical theater at the University of Bridgeport. She also appeared on Broadway, notably as understudy to Stephanie Mills as "Dorothy" in The Wiz, and stepped into the lead role in Washington, D.C., and St. Louis, Missouri.[2]

She has had extensive experience as a session musician, having appeared on tracks by Michael Jackson, Al Green, Puff Daddy, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Big Daddy Kane and Jonathan Butler.[2] Day has also written songs for Randy Crawford and Bootsy Collins, and has writing credits on Missy Elliott's "Gossip Folks" (the second single from her Under Construction album), on which Day co-wrote the hook and provided backing vocals.[2]

House music

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Day was introduced to house music in 1996 when she was asked to do a demo. She met German record producers Boris Dlugosch and Mousse T, who produced a dance single "Keep Pushin", which went on to reach No. 2 on the Billboard dance charts. She then sang chorus for Mousse T's track "Horny",[2] which later gained in popularity when additional vocals from the duo Hot 'N' Juicy were added to the song. "Horny" reached No. 1 on the Billboard dance chart. The follow-up song "Hold Your Head Up High", with Booom!, reached No. 6 on the Billboard dance chart.

In 1997, she released the club anthem "Movin' Up", credited as DJ Mike Cruz Presents Inaya Day and Chyna Ro. For this record, long time friend and actress Tichina Arnold lent her vocals but chose to use the moniker Chyna Ro for the project. She again teamed up with Cruz for "Can't Stop Dancing" which reached No. 1 on the Billboard club play chart.[3]

In 2004 she sang on a track by the Australian dance producer mrTimothy called "I Am Tha 1", credited to Mr Timothy featuring Inaya Day, which went to the top of the Australian dance charts and top 30 in the Australian pop charts. She also sang on his next single "Stand By Me" later that year. "Nasty Girl" was first released in Australia, reaching the top 20, and it was then released in the UK in July 2005, and reached No. 9 there.[4] Later that year, she also guest featured on "The Glamorous Life", a single by T-Funk, an alternate alias of mrTimothy. In June 2007, Day released a cover version of the 1988 Big Pig song, "Breakaway", which itself was a cover of the song "I Can't Break Away" by Chuck Jackson.

Family life

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Day is also the cousin of Solomon Roberts Jr., the bandleader and co-founder of the Dance/funk group Skyy, for which she has confirmed as she is serving as a contributor as part of a profile on the group in an Unsung episode that will in March 2020.

Discography

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  • 1996 – "Can't Stop Dancin'" – Cruz and Bugz – No. 1 Billboard dance chart
  • 1997 – "Movin' Up (Take My Problems to the Dance Floor)" – Mike Cruz featuring Inaya Day and Tichina Arnold China Ro – No. 2 Billboard dance chart
  • 2000 – "Feel It" – with DJ Dome – UK No. 51[4]
  • "I'm Touched" – DJ Dove featuring Inaya Day
  • "Shout It Out" – Inaya Day meets Louis Benedetti
  • 1999 – "Just Can't Get Enough" – Harry "Choo Choo" Romero Presents Inaya Day – No. 39 UK[4]
  • "I Will" – Mongobonix featuring Inaya Day
  • "Hold Your Head Up High" – Boris Dlugosch Presents Booom!
  • "Keep Pushin' On" – Boris Dlugosch remix
  • 2004 – "Better Things" – Afropeans
  • 2004 – "I Am tha 1" – Mr Timothy featuring Inaya Day
  • 2005 – "Nasty Girl" – produced by Mousse T. and So Phat! (cover of the Vanity 6 song)
  • 2005 – "The Glamorous Life" – by T-Funk featuring Inaya Day
  • 2006 – "Stand By Me" – Mr Timothy featuring Inaya Day
  • 2007 – "Breakaway"
  • 2008 – "Say You Will"
  • 2008 – "Natural High" – Michael Woods Feat. Inaya Day
  • 2009 – "Take Me Up" – Inaya Day vs. Leggz & Femi B
  • 2009 – "Got 2 Get Up" – Mr Timothy featuring Inaya Day
  • 2009 – "Let There Be" – Inaya Day and Antoine Dessante
  • 2010 – "Superstar" – Inaya Day and DJ Eako
  • 2010 – "Never Had Another Love" – Mike Cruz presents Inaya Day
  • 2010 – "Better Days" – Inaya Day and Native Sons
  • 2010 – "All I'm Sayin' (Just Hold On)'" – Inaya Day and Nick J
  • 2010 – "Joy" – Inaya Day and Antoine Dessante
  • 2010 – "Til The Morning Comes" – Inaya Day vs Diego Ray & Nick Corline
  • 2010 – "Do The Right Thing" – Quentin Harris and Inaya Day
  • 2011 – "Chase me" – Inaya Day
  • 2011 – "Rapid Fire (Rapido)" – Inaya Day & Giangi
  • 2011 – "Where Are They Now" – Inaya Day & Dmitry Filatov
  • 2011 – "Sweet Lover" – Inaya Day vs Menini & Viani
  • 2011 – "Next To You" – Inaya Day
  • 2011 – "Time Is Now" – Inaya Day and Mangesto
  • 2011 – "Lose My Worries" – Inaya Day & Ralf Gum
  • 2011 – "My Love" – Inaya Day vs Sem Thomasson & Siege
  • 2011 – "One Way" – Inaya Day
  • 2012 – "That Place" – Dunk N' Aliens feat Mia & Inaya Day
  • 2012 – "Redemption" – DeVonde & Mangesto feat Inaya Day
  • 2012 – "Jump Up & Down" – Mike Cruz produces Inaya Day & Mark Shine
  • 2012 – "Long Day" – Inaya Day Allstars featuring Crystal Waters
  • 2013 – "Like You" – Ridney & Inaya Day
  • 2013 – "Make Some Noise" – Inaya Day & DJ Escape
  • 2014 – "Shelter Me" – Lee Dagger, featuring Inaya Day
  • 2015 – "Stranded" – Dirty Disco, featuring Inaya Day
  • 2016 – "Do What We Do" – Bit Error & Country Club Martini Crew feat. Inaya Day
  • 2016 – "Keep Pushin'" – Tujamo, featuring Inaya Day
  • 2016 – "One Night In Heaven" – Toy Armada and DJ Grind feat. Inaya Day
  • 2020 – "Love Like This" – (Greg Gould feat. Inaya Day) on the album 1998[5]
  • 2025 - ''Our Revival'' - Ewan McVicar & Inaya Day

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Inaya Day (born Inaya Davis; January 17, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, and performer renowned for her influential contributions to house and over more than two decades. Raised in , New York, Day began her musical journey singing in church as a child, which provided her initial stage experience. She later attended the prestigious LaGuardia High School of Music & and studied solo voice at the , honing her skills in musical theater from age 13, including Broadway, off-, and regional productions. A member of the Actors' Equity Association and a voting member of the Grammy Recording Academy, Day has demonstrated versatility across genres such as , , hip-hop, R&B, funk, and musical theater. Day's breakthrough in dance music came in the late 1990s with her debut single "Keep Pushin'" (1998), which peaked at number 2 on the US chart and number 41 on the UK Singles Chart. She followed with other hits like "Hold Your Head Up High" and her featured vocals on Mousse T's "Horny '98", which became a global dance anthem and earned platinum certifications in the UK and . Her cover of Vanity 6's "Nasty Girl" (2001) also topped dance charts, and she is the only artist to perform twice in one week on the UK's . Additional notable tracks include "Feel It", "Movin' Up", "One Night In Heaven", and "Feelin' Feelin'", the latter reaching #1 on Soulful charts. Recognized as one of Billboard's Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists, Day has amassed numerous top 10 hits across international charts and collaborated with prominent figures such as , , P. Diddy, , and . Her music has appeared in television shows like , Pose, and (theme song), as well as films such as . Signed to labels including , , and , she has also composed jingles, theme songs (including for ), and acted in projects like Who Shot Pat? alongside . Now a label owner, Day continues to tour and release music, including recent collaborations such as "My Strength" with 45 Riots (2024) and "My Name is Love" with (2025), while blending her theater roots—such as her role in the 2025 production Drag Me to the Catskills—with contemporary electronic sounds.

Early Life and Education

Childhood in Brooklyn

Inaya Day was born Inaya Davis on January 17, 1977, in , New York. She grew up in a musical family environment in the borough, where music was an integral part of daily life and community activities. Day's introduction to occurred in church during her childhood, beginning with participation in performances. Her mother encouraged her to join the kids' choir, further immersing her in vocal expression. Observing her sister and cousins in the young adult choir ignited her passion for performing, as she admired their involvement and stage presence. These church settings provided Day's initial audiences, where she honed her skills amid a supportive congregation. This early foundation established strong influences that would shape her vocal style. This period of informal training transitioned into more structured education at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and .

Musical Training at LaGuardia

Inaya Day attended the of Music & Art and Performing Arts in , a prestigious institution known for its conservatory-style arts education. As a vocal major, she received intensive training in vocal performance and , which helped refine her singing technique and musical foundation. This formal education built upon her early experiences in church, providing a structured environment to develop her artistry. The school's rigorous curriculum exposed Day to a variety of musical genres, including and R&B, through ensemble performances and classroom instruction, fostering her versatility as a performer. These programs emphasized not only technical skills but also collaborative arts experiences, allowing students like Day to explore diverse styles within a supportive academic setting. Her time at LaGuardia was particularly formative, as she later described the school as an inspiring place akin to the depiction in the film Fame, where she thrived in a creative community. Day graduated from LaGuardia and immediately pursued higher education by enrolling at the , where she majored in musical theater. This step marked her transition toward professional opportunities, including early performances in regional musicals that honed her stage presence and prepared her for a career in music.

Professional Career

Session Vocalist Beginnings

Following her graduation from the LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, Inaya Day entered the professional music scene in the early 1990s as a session vocalist in . She quickly built a reputation for her versatile voice, contributing background and session vocals across multiple genres, including R&B, hip-hop, and . Her early work involved providing vocals for prominent artists, such as Sean “Puffy” Combs (Puff Daddy), as well as , , , , , and . Day also co-wrote two tracks on Crawford's 1995 album Every Kind of Mood, including the singles “When I Lose Control” and “Lead Me into Love,” and sang the theme song “I’m Every Woman” alongside Valerie Simpson. Day's session experience honed her adaptability in studio environments, where she navigated the demands of live tracking and overdubs for high-profile R&B and hip-hop projects. Her gospel roots, developed through church performances in , informed her emotive delivery in these sessions, allowing her to blend soulful harmonies with urban beats. This period established her as a go-to studio singer for producers seeking polished, genre-spanning vocal support, with contributions appearing on albums and singles that topped R&B and hip-hop charts in the mid-1990s. By the mid-1990s, Day began transitioning toward while maintaining her session roles. Her first notable track, “Can't Stop Dancin'” (1996), featured her lead vocals alongside producers and Bugz, marking her initial foray into the genre and reaching No. 1 on the Hot chart in 1997. Released on Henry Street Music, the song showcased her energetic style over upbeat rhythms, bridging her R&B background with club-oriented production. This collaboration highlighted her growing presence in New York's underground scene, where session work often overlapped with emerging electronic sounds.

House Music Breakthrough

Inaya Day achieved her breakthrough in with her featured vocals on "Horny '98" by Mousse T. vs. Hot 'n' Juicy, released in 1998. The track topped the Hot Dance Club Songs chart and reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, while also peaking at number six on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles and number two in . It earned Silver certification from the (BPI) and Platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (). Following up this success, Day contributed lead vocals to several key house tracks, including "Keep Pushin'" with in 1997, which peaked at number two on the Hot chart, and her 2001 cover of "Nasty Girl," originally by , which became another club staple. These and other collaborations helped propel her to 13 top-ten entries on the chart, including seven number-one hits. Day's vocal contributions extended to tracks like "Movin' Up (Take It to the Dance Floor)" with Mike Cruz in 1997, featuring Chyna Ro, which reached number three on the Hot chart, and "Hold Your Head Up High" with Booom! in 1997, peaking at number six. Building on her prior experience as a session vocalist, these late and early releases solidified Day's reputation as a premier vocalist, influencing the scene through high-energy performances at clubs and festivals worldwide and earning her recognition as one of 's Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists.

Solo Releases and Label Ownership

Inaya Day launched her solo album era in 2008 with U, a collaborative project with producer Antoine Dessante released on Velcro Records, featuring tracks that blended her powerful vocals with upbeat house rhythms. She followed this with Let There Be in 2009 and Joy in 2010, both partnering again with Dessante and emphasizing themes of upliftment and energy central to her style. After focusing on collaborations in the intervening years, Day returned to full-length releases with The Day That You Were Born in 2016, an introspective work drawing on her gospel heritage and issued under her own imprint. Her latest solo album, Go The Distance, emerged in 2024, showcasing matured songwriting and production that bridges classic house with modern electronic elements. To gain autonomy over her career trajectory, Day founded Ny-O-Dae Music in 2010, a New York City-based label dedicated to vocal-driven . As owner and president, she has taken on roles in producing and arranging releases, fostering artists while distributing her own material through partnerships with major labels such as , WEA, and Defected. This entrepreneurial move allowed her to curate projects that align closely with her artistic vision, including expansions into , gospel-infused , and Afro-house, genres that echo her early training in musical theater and church choirs. Day's recent solo output includes the 2022 remake of her iconic track "Horny," reinterpreted with band 45 Riots to infuse fresh grooves while preserving its seductive essence. In 2024, she reunited with 45 Riots for "My Strength," a motivational single highlighting resilience through layered percussion and soaring vocals. These efforts underscore her ongoing evolution, building on early successes like "Horny '98" to maintain relevance in global dance scenes. In March 2025, Day toured , headlining events such as Sky Disco's Weekend at Riviera Beach Club. By November 2025, she performed at DJ T-Groove's Birthday in , delivering high-energy sets amid a celebratory atmosphere.

Personal Life

Family Musical Ties

Inaya Day is the cousin of Solomon Roberts Jr., the bandleader, co-founder, songwriter, guitarist, and lead male vocalist of the R&B/dance-funk group Skyy, known for hits like "Call Me" and "High." Day's extended family played a significant role in shaping her early musical path, particularly through involvement in church choirs during her childhood in . Her mother enrolled her in the children's choir at their local church, where she developed foundational vocal skills alongside her sister and cousins, who performed in the young adult choir and inspired her with their harmonies and performances. This familial immersion in honed her ear for intricate vocal arrangements and built her endurance for extended performances. The presence of professional musicians in her family further influenced Day's development, as she grew up observing Skyy, , and rehearse for tours, exposing her to live , R&B, and production firsthand. These experiences, combined with her gospel choir roots, contributed to her genre versatility, enabling seamless transitions across , , and in her professional work.

Residence and Lifestyle

Day's commitments to family, including caring for her aging mother, have led her to limit extensive travel and prioritize local obligations. Her lifestyle reflects a deliberate balance between her roles as an active performer and label owner, incorporating international tours with grounded, home-based routines such as , , and to sustain personal well-being. Day emphasizes authenticity in her immersion within the music industry, stating that "Art carries a , meaning, , and truth. These things are more authentic when all voices are heard," a perspective she shared in a 2024 interview highlighting her approach to creative and personal integrity. In 2025, Day's active lifestyle has included recent local performances in New York, such as her appearance at SCALES in on November 1 and an upcoming collaboration with at on November 20, underscoring her ongoing connection to the city's vibrant music scene.

Discography

Studio Albums

Inaya Day's debut studio album, U, was released in 2008 in collaboration with producer Dessante, featuring 10 tracks that blend house rhythms with empowering vocals centered on personal growth and self-assertion. The album marks her initial foray into full-length releases, emphasizing motivational lyrics that reflect her gospel-influenced style and commitment to inspirational themes in . Following closely, Let There Be, issued in and also co-produced with Dessante, comprises 13 tracks incorporating spiritual undertones alongside upbeat dance elements, drawing from Day's background in and fusion to create an atmosphere of enlightenment and energy. This follow-up expands on her vocal prowess, integrating faith-based motifs with club-ready beats to inspire listeners through themes of creation and positivity. In 2010, Day released Joy, an eight-track effort that highlights uplifting house grooves fused with gospel harmonies, promoting messages of happiness and communal celebration within the electronic dance genre. The album underscores her ability to merge spiritual influences with infectious rhythms, aligning with her broader career focus on music that connects emotionally with audiences on joy and resilience. The Day That You Were Born, Day's 2016 solo containing seven songs, offers a reflective exploration of life's milestones and her musical evolution, blending soulful introspection with elements across its 29-minute runtime. This release captures a more personal narrative, echoing her lifelong dedication to themes of love, life, and spiritual growth in her discography. Her most recent studio album, , arrived in 2024 as a collaboration with producers TANNR and Toy Armada, featuring seven tracks that emphasize resilience and perseverance through dynamic arrangements and collaborative energy. Clocking in at 43 minutes, the album reinforces Day's signature motivational ethos, inspiring endurance amid challenges via its rhythmic drive and vocal intensity.

Notable Singles and Collaborations

Inaya Day's early singles marked her entry into the scene, with "Can't Stop Dancin'" (1996), produced by Cruz & Bugz, reaching No. 1 on the Hot chart in 1997. Followed by "Movin' Up (Take My Problems to the Dance Floor)" (1997), a with Mike Cruz featuring Chyna Ro, which peaked at No. 2 on the same chart. Her breakthrough came with contributions to high-profile tracks, including providing uncredited vocals on Mousse T.'s "Horny '98" (1998), featuring Hot 'n' Juicy, which topped the Hot Dance Club Songs chart and became an international hit. In 2005, her cover of "Nasty Girl," originally by and produced by Mousse T. and So Phat!, achieved significant dance radio play and peaked at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart, while also entering the Dance Singles Sales chart at No. 11. Other notable solo releases include "Keep Pushin'" (1998), a with that gained traction in European clubs, and "Hold Your Head Up High" (1998) with Booom!, which peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart. "Feel It" (2000) with DJ Dome reached No. 51 on the UK Singles Chart. "U Spin Me" (2007), produced by Mike Cruz and released on Tommy Boy's Silver Label, hit No. 1 on the Hot Dance Club Songs . Similarly, "Lift It Up" (2005) topped the on June 11, 2005, showcasing her vocal prowess over uplifting house beats. Additional tracks include "One Night In Heaven" (2000). In recent years, Day has continued collaborating on fresh material, including a 2022 remake of "Horny" with 45 Riots, blending live instrumentation with the original's energy. Her 2024 Afro-house single "My Strength," again with 45 Riots, emphasizes empowerment themes and has been highlighted in dance music outlets for its genre fusion. In 2025, she featured on Ewan McVicar's "Baddest Beat," a track receiving airplay on Insomniac Radio and contributing to her ongoing presence in electronic dance circuits. Over her career, Day has amassed multiple top 10 entries on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart, including several No. 1s, often partnering with producers like Mike Cruz and performing alongside artists such as at key events.

References

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