Abiyah has an edge that you rarely find in contemporary women singers—White-bred and pre-packaged, ol’ girl isn’t. As a writer, she’s passionate and onstage she sings, rebel-yells, dub-chants or raps about empowerment. Abiyah skirts convention, and there’s obviously some influences from a wicked orgy of pop-culture pacesetters; Henry Rollins, the Runaways, Queen Latifah, Sister Carol, The Cure, and Michael Franti. Abiyah often makes her own beats and performs primarily solo (often accompanied by a backing vocalist and/or dj/laptop guru), but is also a fierce collaborator with an impressive roster of partners, including djdq (glue), John Van Eaton (Nine Inch Nails), Dana Hamblen (Fairmount Girls), and many more. Abiyah’s music was featured on the critically-acclamed independent terrestrial radio station 97X (now woxy.com). Her noteworthy performances include the Vans Warped Tour, Scribble Jam, MidPoint Music Festival, and opening for avant Hip Hop MC Beans and Mike Ladd.