Strand was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico[1] but grew up in Nashville, Tennessee[2] after moving there when she was two.[3] She was the oldest daughter born to Rosa and Dan, a Southern Baptist pastor.[2] Her mother is Puerto Rican. Her family's Christian background[4] meant that she was immersed in Christian music. Strand began singing in church at the age of two.[2] She currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia.[1]
At the age of seventeen, Strand was signed to Sparrow Records, a Christian music subsidiary of EMI,[5] after being spotted singing at a wedding.[4] She appeared on the song "Never Alone (Nunca Solo)" from Avalon band member Jody McBrayer's album, This is Who I Am.[6] She was also asked to record a cover of "With or Without You" with GRITS on the U2 tribute album In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa.[4][6]
She and one of her songs, "Rock You Senseless" was featured in a commercial for Clairol's 2004 Herbal Essence campaign.[4] The song was released digitally and also used in an episode of What I Like About You called "Split Ends" in which Strand played a role loosely based on her experience of getting the part for the Herbal Essence commercial.[7]
By then, she had signed with Virgin Records[8] with plans to release a non-Christian album that failed to come to fruition.[6] A subsequent contract with Zomba Label Group also fell through.[8] Strand later appeared as a contestant in the failed reality television series The One: Making a Music Star in 2006.[8]
In 2007, Strand signed a songwriting deal with Universal Music Publishing Group, which led to her meeting with Ne-Yo's manager and then Ne-Yo, himself and eventually signing with his label[1] and Universal Motown after auditioning for its president in 2008.[5][1][2] She was the first artist signed to Ne-Yo's label, Compound Entertainment.[5] Strand was an opening act for Ne-Yo on his Year of the Gentleman tour.[5][4]
She is also friends with Katy Perry[5][4] and appeared in Perry's music video for "Hot N Cold" as a bridesmaid.[5] Strand co-wrote the title bonus track from Ashley Tisdale's album, Guilty Pleasure. Strand is working on her album,[4] "Man's World", due to be released in 2010. Her debut single, "Good Girls Like Bad Boys" was released on June 9, 2009, it features Flo Rida. Another song, "Trenchcoat & Shades" was released digitally in the UK on September 6, 2009. [edit] Discography [edit] Singles 2009: "Good Girls Like Bad Boys" (featuring Flo Rida) [edit] Music videosYear Single Director 2009 "Good Girls Like Bad Boys" Claire Carre[9]
[edit] References ^ a b c d Micah Jesse Interview with Jadyn Maria, Micah Jesse, 7 October 2009, retrieved 2009-11-03 ^ a b c d Official Bio, Compound Entertainment, retrieved 2009-11-03 ^ Get to Know Jadyn Maria!, Seventeen Magazine, 26 January 2009, retrieved 2009-11-03 ^ a b c d e f g Perry, Clayton (24 September 2009), Interview: Jadyn Maria - Singer and Songwriter, Blogcritics, retrieved 2009-11-03 ^ a b c d e f Rogers, Troy, Living in a Man's World with Singer Jadyn Maria, The Deadbolt, retrieved 2009-11-03 ^ a b c Jadyn Maria is back, but not doing Christian Music, CMDish, 28 October 2009, retrieved 2009-11-04 ^ Howard, Theresa (14 October 2004), TV product placement moves out of background, USA Today ^ a b c Remember Jadyn?, Tommy2, 9 June 2009, retrieved 2009-11-04 ^ Gottlieb, Steven (26 May 2009), BOOKED: Jadyn Maria f/ Flo Rida – Claire Carre, director, Video Static, retrieved 2010-01-04
