Wayna at Cada Vez

The drummer dropped the beat hard, go-go style, for the chorus of Minnie Ripperton’s “Loving You,” --the familiar tongue-flapping “lalalalala-lalalala”—and instantly: Wayna’s smooth voice became staccato, the melody hardcore instead of heartbreaking. Her hand, moments before fluttering innocently, jabbed at the air, and heads immediately began nodding across the intimate crowd of fans and local music family gathered for Soundbridge at Cada Vez on U Street.

It’s obvious why the emcees were flustered with introducing the Ethiopian-born DC raised, (pronounced Way-nah) singer-songwriter.

“She has one of the most beautiful voices…she’s incomparable….” he began.

“Stop flirting!” teased Allison, a singer with Ya’MamaNym, who had come out to listen.

“She’s so smooth on my mind…” he tried to continue, before giving up and imploring applause.

During the hour and a half set, Wayna was smooth on the minds and the mic as she and her band took full advantage of the engaging crowd’s close proximity to sing from autobiographic debut “Moments of Clarity” and tracks from her untitled sophomore album.

“Does anyone know what it’s like to chase a dream?” Wayna asked. With a rousing affirmative response, she opened “Mama’s Sacrifice,” deeply personal and haunting song about her mother’s decision to raise Wayna alone. Mid-song, she shared with the audience a story of not having the pretty things friends said all princesses are supposed to have, and the moment she recognized her mother’s devotion to her wasn’t in what she bought Wayna, but how she cherished her.

Wayna tucked away her vulnerability to reveal a seductive “Secret Identity,” which put all shady men on notice that femme fatale Wayna is hip to their tricks. “My x-ray eyes see what you’re tryin’ to do to me/my bionic ear hears what you’re sayin’ about me,” she sings with glaring eyes. Despite this line, “trust me baby, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry,” her cooing voice, swirling hips and rapt male attention suggested that a brother just might.

“Straight up,” an award-winning song declares exactly what Wayna prefers instead of games, “I need your loving straight up.” The drummer graciously added a bangin’ go-go hook that justified coming out on the rainy night. And so do local artists, she sings: “We need your loving straight up.” Wayna gave shouts out and stage time to artists in the audience—Alison Carney from Yamama’Nym, Cy Young, her back-up singer, each band member (which includes a ferocious drummer), and the guy working the sound board. “You didn’t think the sound man could rap?” he asked rhetorically.

New material appealed to the “grown and sexy crowd,” as one song lamented the attraction to a fine man with no manners, and a preference for an electric PlayStation than the one Wayna had of her own. “This is not mean to put brothers down,” she reassured them. But a “friendly reminder to treat sisters kinder.” A guitar solo kicked in so woeful it sounded like both women begging for attention and men explaining away their distractions.

Connecting with audience and community distinguished this performance, and Wayna’s approach to music. She has collaborated with many DC artists, as opened for national names when in town: Common, Amerie, Fantasia and others. “Sincere and honest music, being humble and working hard” she believes will move her from opening act to main attraction. Her next album will move away from the personal issues she “purged” in “Moments,” her next will have a “universal perspective,” which she described as a “personal evolution” and the “mark of a good songwriter.”