Singer/songwriter Aja Daashuur is an ambitious woman. Born and raised in New York City, Daashuur was named after the Steely Dan song and from there, she found herself surrounded by the arts. Whether it was her love for listening to Nina Simone, Joe Jackson, and Stevie Nicks, or performing in plays and choirs, Daashuur's love was music. She and her family moved to Los Angeles while she was still a kid, and there, Daashuur was classically trained on piano. Her songwriting developed by age 12 and upon graduating from high school, Daashuur returned to Manhattan for a collegiate career in film at New York University. A change in plans, however, was in the works. Daashuur inked a record deal and her budding career as a vocalist began. During late 1999, Daashuur starting working with some sessions musicians to compose her debut album. She hooked up with producers Eric Rosse (Tori Amos) and Darryl Swann (Macy Gray) to capture her musical crossovers. Before the Beginning, which was issued in early 2002, blended Daashuur's fondness for R&B and classic rock while incorporating reflections of worldbeat and electronica. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide
