The Neo Soul Songstress of Truth Music
Soul and neo-soul singer of scriptural truths. Her name means ‘female servant of Christ’.
Soul and neo-soul singer of scriptural truths. Her name means ‘female servant of Christ’.
Handmaiden of Yashaya, a Soul and Neo Soul truth music artist on the 4 Corner Music Group record label, is a singer of scriptural truth who draws her lyrics from the Old and New Testament KJV translations; the Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha; and the Dead Sea scroll collection.
Born in Clapton, East London, UK; her stage name uses the Ancient Phoenician rendering of Christ’s name: Yashaya; but basically means ‘female servant of my Saviour’.
Her clothing style is a nod to her self-discovery of her ancient ancestry - drawn from traditional Middle East and African approaches to female modesty.
Growing up in the early 80s, she listened to classic lovers rock, a genre of reggae and whatever else her mum was blasting from pirate radio stations every Sunday.
Whitney Houston was her favourite singer, but Handmaiden’s sound is influenced mostly by US male groups/artists like H-Town, Jodeci, Dru-Hill, Jon B, Musiq Soulchild, Jaheim, Usher and Profyle. But also by Aaliyah, Kelly Price, Faith, Brandy, Teedra Moses and Monica.
Now, with an understanding of how her generation’s behaviour was nudged by the lyrics that the musical world sponsored; she takes her inspiration from the Holy Spirit, and the Word. Her favourite sounds are those by Floetry, Mali, Marvin Sapp, Sean C Johnson - as well as a host of Truth Music artists like Fred and the Genius Ahayah, Jeremiah Gyang, Gabarya’ahla, ManassahWOD, Sistah Char and N’bi’yah.
Handmaiden knew she could sing from the age of about 10, when her family carted her around different church youth groups to sing in showcases. She signed with a manager when she was 14, and joined a girl group that didn’t work out but carried on performing and recording an album with a producer, James Anthony, who was also her classically trained singing teacher. She joined his choir and was performing around the UK by about the age of 16.
After a break from music to have children and focus on her non-musical career, Handmaiden found her love of music again, this time while attending a Judeo Christian church, briefly diverting to classical music, classic hymns and Handel type scores with a choir and learning to read music (with no sign of drums or a beat anywhere!!!).
Her musical journey is intertwined with her path seeking the Most High in Christ, and when she found Them among the Gathering of Christ Church, she also found her musical home among the talented Children of Israel - recognising the Holy Spirit in the truth music coming out of the US.
Truth Music is a branch of Gospel music, characterised by the independence of the artists; the self-realisation of their biblical bloodline and ancestry; and scriptural lyrics that seek to retain and promote literal and original meaning without the corruption of Roman or other post Constantine influence.
Truth Music artists record Grime, RnB, Reggae, Jazz, Soul, Hip Hop, Rap and other musical genres.
Since recording truth music, Handmaiden has had a warm welcome from inside and outside of her faith. She enjoys building her own vocal layers, mixing them herself, then sharing raw work on her YouTube channel - or sending her tracks for professional mastering.
As a trained and qualified broadcast journalist, and after spending years watching her old producer record and mix her vocals, Handmaiden is continually refining her approach to first lay and mix her own vocals before sending them off to be polished. Listeners can chart her journey in the changing sound of her raw releases.
Handmaiden of Yashaya’s musical goal is to serve Christ as her King by musically exhorting her listeners with humility to put living a righteous life based on literal scripture into practice today - and never look back. She sees her musical work as service to her listeners, not as a means for her own glory or wealth.
And if only one soul comes to Christ from hearing, that’s her goal fulfilled.
Handmaiden of Yashaya's debut single release 'Don't let the Devil Get In' is a heart-filled song for her people - who often get led by emotions to the wrong actions when walking in the flesh.
Handmaiden wrote, recorded and mixed this in tears after watching her loved ones break into a mass fight that ended up dividing a family.
Check it out!!
Polished by THE MIX MACHINE @danmixmachine (IG)
HeavenSong is Handmaiden’s most viewed and listened to track on her YouTube Channel.
This outpouring of adoration for the creator of all things visible and invisible was co-written with labelmate and fellow Truth Music sensation, Sistah Char; and mixed by Handmaiden herself.
An imagining of the song portrayed in the Book of Revelation, where the Four Creatures & 24 Elders in Heaven are giving all glory to God, sitting on His throne. Revelation 4:8, 10, 11 (KJV)
This track hasn’t been released for sale but is available to listeners worldwide. Watch out for the Mississippi Remix of HeavenSong, landing soon!
Chastening, popular among worshippers in the US, is based on God chastising those who are His, as part of a process of refinement to perfection in Christ.
In this track, Handmaiden draws on Proverbs 3:11-12; Psalms 94:12-13; as well as the Apocrypha to exhort God to consider her His child through Christ and to refine her.
Written and mixed by Handmaiden in 2018, only the raw version of Chastening is currently available.
Goats to the Left was the first Truth Music track that Handmaiden wrote. It has the third 'most viewed' rank on her YouTube Channel - but it's her mum's favourite! Maybe it's that nursery rhyme-type flow on the baseline...
Based on the terrifying prophesied scenario in Matthew 25:32-34, Handmaiden challenges believers to imagine being rejected by Christ the King, on His return as an incentive to practice righteous living: "If he tells you 'I know you not, depart from me, goats to the left, you are not my sheep!' What you gonna say? What you gonna do? Where you gonna go?"
Mixed and Mastered by NVISON MUSIC, Handmaiden is due to re-record and release this song in the near future, with the talented @Nvision.mcr (IG) hopefully at the controls again.
HANDMAIDEN TRIVIA: Little known facts about this song are that it originally featured UK sensational truth music lyricist, Gabarya'ahla. There's also a remix, featuring Gabarya'ahla, which has a revamped chorus.
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