Ambitious in her drive as both a singer and songwriter, Aja Daashuur entered the world in New York City, where her name derived from a Steely Dan composition. Artistic surroundings shaped her early years through attentive listening to Nina Simone, Joe Jackson, and Stevie Nicks, alongside active participation in plays and choirs that centered on her devotion to music. A family relocation to Los Angeles during her childhood led to formal classical piano training. Songwriting skills emerged by age 12. After high school graduation, she returned to Manhattan to pursue film studies at New York University. Those academic intentions shifted, however, once she signed a record deal that launched her path as a vocalist. Late 1999 found her assembling session musicians for work on a debut album, with producers Eric Rosse (Tori Amos) and Darryl Swann (Macy Gray) brought in to realize her blend of genres. Issued in early 2002, Before the Beginning fused her affinity for R&B and classic rock while weaving in touches of worldbeat and electronica.
