Alysha Brilla is a 3X Juno Award nominated multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and performer weaving together global roots sounds into her unique tapestry of music; transporting audiences to a place nestled between the earth and the stars.
The child of an Indo-Tanzanian musician, Brilla’s songs are a rich and colorful mosaic. Themes of re-connection with ourselves, each other and the earth are woven into uplifting rhythms and soulful melodies. In 2013, Brilla became one of the first self-produced female artists in history to receive a Juno Award nomination (Canada's Grammy Awards) for her debut album “In My Head”. Since then, Brilla has released four critically acclaimed albums; garnering several more Juno Award nominations, Music Producer Of The Year at the IMA’s and a Dundas Square giant Billboard feature with Spotify.
Having performed at The House of Blues Los Angeles, The Montreal International Jazz Festival, WOMAD Chile, Sauti Za Busara in Tanzania and toured several times across Australia, Brilla’s music united audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Her distinct and powerful voice, unique melodies and engaging stage presence invite levity and joy. Whether sharing intimate storytelling sets of music or headlining festival stages of 30,000 with her all-star band, Brilla always has the audience singing along and leaving with a positive feeling in their heart.
Her latest single “Love” was mastered by 3X Grammy Award Winning Engineer Emily Lazar at The Lodge in New York.
Alysha Brilla’s musical journey began at birth with some of her earliest memories of watching her musician father and uncle play guitar together. The sounds of Bob Marley, Joni Mitchell and Indian and African music filled the house. Her own musical destiny was sealed at 13 years old when she borrowed her father’s 1979 Yamaha acoustic guitar and taught herself to play - developing a unique rhythmic fingerpicking style which included the integration of bass notes played with the thumb. A few years later, Alysha naturally began playing the electric bass guitar - joining a world fusion band in Toronto, Canada - providing syncopated melodies and soulful backing vocals. Over the next two decades, Alysha would play, perform and record parts for her albums on keys, drums, hand percussion and the occasional trumpet; blending together her love for her musical roots.
As a songwriter and musician, Brilla has collaborated with many notable artists including The Black Eyes Peas, Tony Kanal of the band No Doubt, Danny Kortchmar (James Taylor, Carole King), Bedouin Soundclash, Digging Roots, Bobby Alu and Sarah Thawer. Alysha has also spoken on numerous music industry panels including Folk Alliance International’s “Healing Through Sound”, Wilfrid Laurier University’s “Women, Art & Activism” and Mundial Montreal’s “Contemporizing Tradition”.
In 2023, Alysha Brilla composed the musical score for the Feature Film “The Queen Of My Dreams”, which premiered at the British International Film Festival and won the audience award at Inside Out Film Festival. Alysha is currently writing and recording her newest album; an upbeat and hopeful collection of songs about love, community and keeping our inner fire alive.
Touring festivals and stages around the world and collaborating on the ground with communities, Alysha's musical mission unites people cross-culturally; building bridges and creating spaces to see, hear and connect to each other through the universal language of music.