Niya may refer to

• Ruins of Niya (泥雅), a site on the southern edge of the Tarim Basin, in modern-day Xinjiang, China
• Niya, county seat of Minfeng County in the Tarim Basin, China
• Niya (kingdom), a kingdom in Mesopotamia, or modern-day Syria, in the late Bronze Age kingdom of Hanigalbat

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Toubab Krewe is an American instrumental band which fuses the music of Mali with American musical styles (particularly those of the Southern United States). The group's instrumentation includes kora (21-string harp-lute), kamelengoni (12-string harp-lute), soku (Malian horsehair fiddle), two electric guitars, electric bass guitar, drum set, and African percussion. The group, which is based in Asheville, North Carolina, was founded in early 2005 and has traveled to West Africa several times, working with local musicians. The band released their self-titled debut album in 2005, which was recorded by Steven Heller at Upstream Records in Asheville, North Carolina. The band released their second album "TK2" on September 7, 2010 on the Nat Geo Music label. Again, it was produced by Steven Heller).^[1]

In several West African languages, including Bambara and Wolof, Toubab means "foreigner." "Krewe" is a reference to the New Orleans region's spelling of the word "Crew."

Live performances[link]

Toubab Krewe has performed at some of the largest attended music festivals in the United States, including the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, MerleFest, MagnoliaFest, High Sierra Music Festival, 10,000 Lakes Festival, Vegoose, Lotus World Music and Art Festival among countless others. Toubab Krewe also performed in January 2007 at the Desert Music Festival in Essakane, Mali, Music on the Mountaintop in Boone, NC and at the 2009 Rothbury Music Festival, in Rothbury, MI, the 2009 Bear Creek Music Festival in Live Oak, FL. as well as their most recent performance on board Jam Cruise 8.

In October 2010 Toubab Krewe performed at Voodoo Experience in New Orleans.

Toubab Krewe recently performed at All Good Music Festival in Masontown, West Virginia, July 15, 2011.

Toubab Krewe performed at the Crystal Bay Club in Crystal Bay, NV on November 8th 2011.

Members[link]

• Teal Brown - drum set (2005 - 2011)
• Vic Stafford - drum set (2011)
• Drew Heller - electric guitar and soku
• Justin Perkins - kora, kamelengoni, and electric guitar
• David Pransky - electric bass guitar
• Luke Quaranta - percussion

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• Toubab Krewe's Official Website
• Toubab Krewe on MySpace
• Download Live Toubab Krewe Performances
• Toubab Krewe Interview
• Toubab Krewe at the Festival of the Desert in Mali
• Toubab Krewe Interview March 2009
• Toubab Krewe: Somewhere Between Worlds By Tim Newby, from HonestTune.com.

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Laarni Lozada (born Laarni Losala on June 23, 1985) is a Filipino pop, ballad, classical, and soul singer. She is the winner of Pinoy Dream Academy (Season 2), Philippine franchise of Endemol's Star Academy garnering more than 100,000 votes over the votes obtained by her closest contender Bugoy Drillon.^[1]

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Laarni was born in Pasig City^[2] to William and Nita Losala.^[3] The family moved to Isulan, Sultan Kudarat later on. She has six siblings.^[4]

Laarni was a consistent honor student from elementary to high school. When she was in Grade 5, she worked at the local public market and at the family farm.^[4] When she was 15, she left Isulan for Manila.^[4] to pursue her education. An aunt from the US supported her in her studies at the School of Music of the Philippine Women's University. However, she decided to shift course from AB Music to BS Education, Major in English, when she realized that most of the music students in the school were from the upper strata of society. She feared that she lacked the eloquence to be part of that kind of milieu.^[2] Her musical talent, however, paved the way for her to become a university scholar while working as a student assistant of the school.

Laarni sang both for passion and for a living. She sang in different social functions, particularly in weddings, joined singing competitions, and accepted guestings. She became a runner-up in the now-defunct "Sing Galing" of ABC5. She won the Rotary Club Intercollegiate/University singing contest, besting 25 other contestants from different schools in Manila by rendering the patriotic anthem "Dakilang Lahi". She also won the National Grand Finals of the "Campus Idol" search by her rendition of "What Kind of Fool Am I?"^[5]

Laarni also joined the PWU Church chorale, the Ambassadors of Light, and the Malate Church Chorale. When she became part of the Coro de San Sebastian, she got the opportunity to sing together with said choral group with the Philippine Madrigal Singers in a Madrigal et al. concert.^[5]

At 16 years old, Laarni sang at the Calesa Bar,^[2] she had the opportunity to get musical pointers from the bar's musical director, Rudy Francisco.

Her musical influences include Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Charlotte Church, Regine Velasquez, Sheryn Regis, Lea Salonga, Lani Misalucha, Charice Pempengco, Sarah Geronimo, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera and Jed Madela.^[2]

Education[link]

She graduated from Philippine Women's University in Taft Manila with a degree of Bachelor of Arts, Major in Secondary Education.

[edit] Pinoy Dream Academy

Upon learning about new season of Pinoy Dream Academy, Laarni decided to audition. An inspirational song, "Lead Me Lord, " earned for her the 15th slot after a long process of elimination.

After 13 weeks in the academy, Laarni was hailed the Grand Star Dreamer on September 14, 2008 at the Cuneta Astrodome. At the end of the show's two-night finale, she garnered 651,696 votes (100% of the total votes).

On October 9, 2008, she and Phillip Nolasco, Little Grand Star Dreamer, received the keys to their new houses in Binangonan, Rizal and one million pesos as their prize for winning the competition.^[6]

In-Academy Performances[link]

• Official Performances
  1. In Your Eyes - George Benson Original Singer
  2. As If We Never Said Goodbye - Barbra Streisand
  3. Fighter - Christina Aguilera
  4. Kung Ako Na Lang Sana — Bituin Escalante, with Iñaki
  5. Natural Woman - Aretha Franklin
  6. Let's Groove - Earth, Wind & Fire, with Apple & Miguel
  7. Too Much Heaven - The Bee Gees, with Apple & Miguel
  8. ‘Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin — April Boy Regino
  9. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
  10. On The Wings of Love / Back at One - jeffrey Osborne Original Singer / Brian McKnight, counterpoint with Bugoy
  11. The Prayer - Andrea Bocelli & Celine Dion, with Jed Madela
  12. I Am Blessed - Eternal
  13. Waray Waray - Ertha Kitt, Mabuhay Singers
  14. Manalig Ka - Laarni Losala
  15. Boogie Wonderland - Earth, Wind & Fire
• Face-Off Performances
  1. And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going - Jennifer Holliday, with Poy
• ASAP Performances
  1. Hiram - Zsazsa Padilla, with Zsazsa Padilla
  2. Starting Over Again - Natalie Cole, with Sheryn Regis

Career[link]

Laarni's Grand Star Dreamer title has earned her a place in the stable of talents of ABS-CBN. She has made appearances in many programs, especially in Boy & Kris where she has guested four times already in a span of three weeks. On the Cory Aquino special of the said show, fellow scholar, Hansen, confessed that Laarni has a crush on fellow ASAP '09 singer, Jed Madela who she had a duet with in the Academy.^[7] Other guestings include gameshows like The Singing Bee, Wowowee and Pilipinas, Game KNB?; and talk shows like Umagang Kay Ganda, The Buzz, Entertainment Live, and even Sharon. She has also guested in the Little Grand Dream Night of Pinoy Dream Academy: Little Dreamers

Her first single, Manalig Ka, was written by Ryan Cayabyab. It is included in the Top 10 scholar's album, namely Scholar's Sing Cayabyab. The album Scholar's Sing Cayabyab has been certified with a gold award.

On September 30, 2008, Laarni signed her very first recording contract with ABS-CBN and Star Records. With all new compositions, she is set to release an album in the near future.^[8]

She released her self-titled debut album Laarni Lozada,spawning the hit single Kung Iniibig Ka Niya which was penned by one of the most prolific hit makers in the Philippines Vehnee Saturno. The song Kung Iniibig Ka Niya is the theme song of the latest ABS-CBN soap opera entitled Kambal Sa Uma. Her second single, a revival of the hit song Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita which was originally sung by Roselle Nava is the theme song the ABS-CBN Precious Hearts Romances series entitled Alyna .

She was also handpicked by Gary Valenciano to sing a duet of his hit song Narito at his anniversary concert Gary at 25 at the Araneta Coliseum and later on joined Gary Valenciano with Rachelle Ann Go and Karylle for his hit song Each Passing Night. The concert is set to be released as a DVD.

Laarni Lozada is currently under Backroom Inc., the talent management and booking office of Mr. Boy Abunda.

Laarni is currently preparing to take part in the Star Magic World Tour, which would bring her the US, Canada and Dubai together with the biggest stars of ABS-CBN's talent arm, Star Magic.

Laarni is the endorser of Belo, Black Beauty Shampoo and Dibuho Clothing Apparel.

Laarni can be seen as a semi-regular artist on ASAP.

Voice[link]

Laarni's voice is classified as a dramatic soprano verging on coloratura. She can effortlessly shift from classical/opera music to power ballads. Laarni is also known for her versatility when it comes to her mastery of different genres. Laarni can sing operatic arias, jazz, standards, bossa nova, rock songs, pop/dance songs, R&B songs, kundiman and power ballads.

Television[link]

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Other albums[link]

Singles[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

See also[link]

• Pinoy Dream Academy
• Pinoy Dream Academy (season 2)
• ABS-CBN

References[link]

External links[link]

• Laarni's Multiply Group