Aja Kim
Encyclopedia
Aja Kim is an American female singer and songwriter.
and raised in Philadelphia, PA
Aja Kim first came to public attention when she collaborated with rock and roll
saxophonist, Clarence Clemons
(who is best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen
's E Street Band
) on the 1995 Japan-only CD release Aja and the Big Man - Get It On. Three songs she co-wrote were her solo vocal contributions to the CD, along with a duet with Clarence of the Ike & Tina Turner
classic "Baby, Get It On." She was prominently featured alongside Mr. Clemons on the cover of the release. Subsequently, they performed as "Clarence Clemons and Aja" at various venues and festivals in the U.S. on both the East and West Coast, as well as at a pre-Winter Olympic celebration held in the Olympic Village in Utah in late 1996.
She continued to work as a freelance session vocalist and voice over actor throughout the late '90s and early '00s on radio and television commercials and sang on CD releases by both major label and independent artists, including the comeback CD, Straight from the Heart, of former Top Jimmy and the Rhythm Pigs member, Carlos Guitarlos. During this time, she also toured in both the United States and South America with a diverse collection of artists ranging from former Tower of Power
guitarist, Bruce Conte
, to South American rock superstars Wilma Palma e Vampiros before independently releasing her first solo CD, Modern Babylon.
In early 2004, Ms. Kim joined the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens
, who had been holding auditions for a new lead vocalist following the departure of member Jenny Warren
. She made her onstage debut with the Maidens at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, CA, on May 28, 2004. In addition, she surprised the band, management and fans by recording all of her lead and background vocal tracks for the Maidens' self-titled debut album in a span of less than three days. This CD was notable for the cover artwork created by original Iron Maiden
album cover artist, Derek Riggs
. She received a "Rockie" that year for "Best Female Vocalist" from The Rock City News Awards .
On July 1, 2008, Ms. Kim announced in her fan newsletter, Adventures in Ajaland, her departure from the Iron Maidens to resume her solo recording and writing career. This was subsequently reported, along with news of her songwriting collaboration with Motörhead guitarist, Phil Campbell
, on Blabbermouth.net
.
and with The Iron Maidens
, in The Los Angeles Times, Guitar World
, Metal Hammer
, Hammerworld (Hungary), Metal Edge
, Kerrang, The Japan Times
, Gibson Lifestyle
, FHM
, Maxim
, Music Connection Magazine, Japan's Burn Magazine, Korea's Hot Music Magazine, The OC Register, Salt Lake City Weekly
, Phoenix New Times
, Houston Press
, Spokane 7, Fairbanks Daily News, Anchorage Daily News
, as well as on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, KCAL
's 9 on the Town (L.A.), KDBC 4 News (El Paso, TX) and 97.1 KLSX-FM
's The Two Media Whores w/ David Adelson & Conway and Whitman (L.A.).
Biography
Born in Fayetteville, NCFayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
and raised in Philadelphia, PA
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
Aja Kim first came to public attention when she collaborated with rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
saxophonist, Clarence Clemons
Clarence Clemons
Clarence Anicholas Clemons, Jr. , also known as The Big Man, was an American musician and actor. From 1972 until his death, he was a prominent member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, playing the tenor saxophone. He released several solo albums and in 1985, had a hit single with "You're a...
(who is best known as a member of Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
's E Street Band
E Street Band
The E Street Band has been rock musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972.The band has also recorded with a wide range of other artists including Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Dire Straits, David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Nicks, Tom Morello, Sting, Ian...
) on the 1995 Japan-only CD release Aja and the Big Man - Get It On. Three songs she co-wrote were her solo vocal contributions to the CD, along with a duet with Clarence of the Ike & Tina Turner
Ike & Tina Turner
Ike & Tina Turner were an American rock & roll and soul duo, made of the husband-and-wife team of Ike Turner and Tina Turner in the 1960s and 1970s. Spanning sixteen years together as a recording group, the duo's repertoire included rock & roll, soul, blues and funk...
classic "Baby, Get It On." She was prominently featured alongside Mr. Clemons on the cover of the release. Subsequently, they performed as "Clarence Clemons and Aja" at various venues and festivals in the U.S. on both the East and West Coast, as well as at a pre-Winter Olympic celebration held in the Olympic Village in Utah in late 1996.
She continued to work as a freelance session vocalist and voice over actor throughout the late '90s and early '00s on radio and television commercials and sang on CD releases by both major label and independent artists, including the comeback CD, Straight from the Heart, of former Top Jimmy and the Rhythm Pigs member, Carlos Guitarlos. During this time, she also toured in both the United States and South America with a diverse collection of artists ranging from former Tower of Power
Tower of Power
Tower of Power is an American R&B-based horn section and band, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing for over 43 years. They are best known for their funky soul sound highlighted by a powerful horn section...
guitarist, Bruce Conte
Bruce Conte
Bruce Conte is an American R&B / jazz fusion guitarist, known primarily for his work with the band Tower Of Power of which he was a member from 1972 to 1979, performing on seven albums and rejoining the band for live work briefly in 2006-7.-Biography:...
, to South American rock superstars Wilma Palma e Vampiros before independently releasing her first solo CD, Modern Babylon.
In early 2004, Ms. Kim joined the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden...
, who had been holding auditions for a new lead vocalist following the departure of member Jenny Warren
Jenny Warren
Jenny Warren is an American female singer, best known as the co-founder of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens.-Biography:Jenny Warren first had an Iron Maiden tribute band called Wrathchild. The idea came when she discovered the website of a Chicago-based tribute band called Revelations...
. She made her onstage debut with the Maidens at the Galaxy Theater in Santa Ana, CA, on May 28, 2004. In addition, she surprised the band, management and fans by recording all of her lead and background vocal tracks for the Maidens' self-titled debut album in a span of less than three days. This CD was notable for the cover artwork created by original Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
album cover artist, Derek Riggs
Derek Riggs
Derek Riggs is a contemporary British artist best known for creating the heavy metal music band Iron Maiden's mascot, "Eddie the Head".-Career:...
. She received a "Rockie" that year for "Best Female Vocalist" from The Rock City News Awards .
On July 1, 2008, Ms. Kim announced in her fan newsletter, Adventures in Ajaland, her departure from the Iron Maidens to resume her solo recording and writing career. This was subsequently reported, along with news of her songwriting collaboration with Motörhead guitarist, Phil Campbell
Phil Campbell (musician)
Philip Anthony Campbell has been the lead guitarist of the British heavy metal band Motörhead since 1984. He is also the former guitarist of Persian Risk.-Early life and career:...
, on Blabbermouth.net
Blabbermouth.net
Blabbermouth.net is a website dedicated to heavy metal and hard rock news, as well as album and music DVD reviews. Blabbermouth.net was founded and is run by Borivoj Krgin. The first version of the website was officially launched in March 2001...
.
Discography
- Aja and The Big Man - Get It On (Clarence ClemonsClarence ClemonsClarence Anicholas Clemons, Jr. , also known as The Big Man, was an American musician and actor. From 1972 until his death, he was a prominent member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, playing the tenor saxophone. He released several solo albums and in 1985, had a hit single with "You're a...
) (1995) - Straight from the Heart (Carlos Guitarlos) (2003) - "Ain't That Loving You" (with Mike WattMike WattMichael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
) - Shades Of Blue (Bruce ConteBruce ConteBruce Conte is an American R&B / jazz fusion guitarist, known primarily for his work with the band Tower Of Power of which he was a member from 1972 to 1979, performing on seven albums and rejoining the band for live work briefly in 2006-7.-Biography:...
) (2004) - Modern Babylon (Aja Kim) (2005)
- World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden (The Iron MaidensThe Iron MaidensThe Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden...
) (2005/2006) - Route 666 (The Iron MaidensThe Iron MaidensThe Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden...
) (2007) - The Root of All EvilThe Root of All Evil (EP)The Root of All Evil is a Japan-only EP release by the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens. It includes three new cover recordings of Iron Maiden songs and a dance remix of "The Trooper." This was the band's last recording to feature lead vocalist Aja Kim and guitarist Heather Baker, who left...
(The Iron MaidensThe Iron MaidensThe Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden...
) (2008)
Media
Aja Kim has been featured as a solo artist, with Clarence ClemonsClarence Clemons
Clarence Anicholas Clemons, Jr. , also known as The Big Man, was an American musician and actor. From 1972 until his death, he was a prominent member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, playing the tenor saxophone. He released several solo albums and in 1985, had a hit single with "You're a...
and with The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens
The Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden...
, in The Los Angeles Times, Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
, Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
, Hammerworld (Hungary), Metal Edge
Metal Edge
Metal Edge was a magazine covering heavy metal music published by Zenbu Media. It was founded in the summer of 1985, during the height of Glam metal's success.Both Metal Edge and its sister publication, Metal Maniacs, ceased operations in 2009....
, Kerrang, The Japan Times
The Japan Times
The Japan Times is an English language newspaper published in Japan. Unlike its competitors, the Daily Yomiuri and the International Herald Tribune/Asahi Shimbun, it is not affiliated with a Japanese language media organization...
, Gibson Lifestyle
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
, FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
, Maxim
Maxim (magazine)
Maxim is an international men's magazine based in the United Kingdom and known for its pictorials featuring popular actresses, singers, and female models, sometimes pictured dressed, often pictured scantily dressed but not fully nude....
, Music Connection Magazine, Japan's Burn Magazine, Korea's Hot Music Magazine, The OC Register, Salt Lake City Weekly
Salt Lake City Weekly
Salt Lake City Weekly is a free alternative weekly tabloid-paged newspaper published in Salt Lake City, Utah. It began its life as the Private Eye. City Weekly is published and dated for every Thursday by Copperfield Publishing Inc...
, Phoenix New Times
Phoenix New Times
The Phoenix New Times is a free, weekly Phoenix, Arizona newspaper, put out every Thursday. It is the founding publication of the New Times Media , but The Village Voice is now the flagship publication of that company....
, Houston Press
Houston Press
The Houston Press is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Houston, Texas, United States. It is headquartered in Downtown Houston....
, Spokane 7, Fairbanks Daily News, Anchorage Daily News
Anchorage Daily News
The Anchorage Daily News is a daily newspaper based in Anchorage, Alaska, in the United States. It is often referred to colloquially as either "the Daily News" or "the ADN"...
, as well as on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, KCAL
KCAL-TV
KCAL-TV, channel 9, is an independent television station in Los Angeles, California, USA, owned by the CBS Corporation. KCAL-TV shares its studio facilities with KCBS-TV inside CBS Studio Center in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson.-Digital...
's 9 on the Town (L.A.), KDBC 4 News (El Paso, TX) and 97.1 KLSX-FM
KLSX
KAMP-FM 97.1 FM, known on-air as 97.1 AMP Radio, is a Rhythmic Contemporary radio station in Los Angeles, California. The station is owned by CBS Radio.The station had long been known as KLSX before the call sign changed on June 30, 2009....
's The Two Media Whores w/ David Adelson & Conway and Whitman (L.A.).