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Spotlight on VAYA

Published by New Jersey Stage

originally published: 02/01/2022

Spotlight on VAYA

VAYA sees themselves as more of a spirit - a way to express yourself through music, colors, and performance - than a traditional band.  Based in Toronto, their first concert was in the summer of 2017.  Their name is strongly connected to the white wolf spirit. The Penguin Rocks presents this interview with VAYA.

Who are the members of the band and what instrument do they each play? VAYA welcomed different musicians on the road I was really happy to share with to empower the all power of it and make it more unique as it started. VAYA is full of soul prints, of human stories, of friend and family ship, of spirituality, of sharing ideas of co creation. And it will continue like that as long as possible. I am really happy to be a part and a witness of it.

Tell me about your latest record.  What songs are you most proud of on the record? I love all of them because all together they do the full spine of  a strong human story:) so each one has its one importance.

 




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How many records, eps, or singles has the band put out in total? How has the band changed over time? We are only on the second opus. We started with a double album. I think we are more confident to experiment ourself on new things.

 

What was one of your favorite gigs? I liked the one we said goodbye to Switzerland, it was warm and sincere.

 

Where does the band regularly play shows?  Well today it is hard to say :) But we are working on flying to Japan and then if Universe allows it, doing a little step back to Europe with the first album. 

 




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Where would you like to play if you could? Where? JAPAN! And ALL OVER THE WORLD!


What would be the “next step” that you’d like to see the band take?  Being renown so we can be able to meet more interesting people and move.


For more on VAYA visit their official website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook. 


The Artist Spotlight series features interviews with artists and bands from around the world.  If you would like to be considered for an interview, email [email protected] and provide a link to your website or socials for us to check out.  There is no cost to being part of the series.  Interviews run at The Penguin Rocks and NewJerseyStage.com


 

FEATURED EVENTS



Stephen King 35mm Double Feature: Carrie and Pet Sematary

Friday, October 30, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ


Get The Led Out

Friday, October 30, 2026 @ 8:00pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ


Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience

Friday, October 30, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ


Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels

Friday, October 30, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Outpost In The Burbs
40 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ


The Lizzie Rose Halloween Spectacular, Costume Contest, and Movie Night, featuring Halloween music by The Wag

Friday, October 30, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ


George Street Playhouse presents The Unexpected 3rd

Friday, October 30, 2026 @ 2:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ


halloween harvest night

Friday, October 30, 2026 @ 6:00pm
NJPAC - Chambers Plaza
1 Center Street, Newark, NJ


Jon Bramnick with special guest Vinnie Brand

Friday, October 30, 2026 @ 7:30pm
NJPAC - Victoria Theater
1 Center Street, Newark, NJ


Eva Ayllon with special guest Daniela Darcourt: Reunion Tour

Friday, October 30, 2026 @ 8:00pm
NJPAC - Prudential Hall
1 Center Street, Newark, NJ


 


 

COLUMNS


Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 10/29/2026

"I heard you're coming to The December 6 Christmas party only because I'm playing," laughed Dave Keyes as he discussed his upcoming gigs at The Lizzie Rose Music Room on October 24, Jamey's House of Music in Lansdowne, PA on Halloween and the Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation's holiday party on the aforementioned December 6 at McCloone's Supper Club in Asbury Park, NJ. "It's gonna be a hell of a band, Bernard (Purdie) is playing drums and Mike Merritt from Conan O'Brien's show is playing bass and Arthur Nielson from Shemekia's (Copeland) band is gonna play guitar so it should be a fun soiree as they say and then I have a gig with Benny Turner down at Jamey's so I've got some interesting stuff coming up." 




This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from October 27 to November 2, 2026




Makin Waves Song of the Week: "If the World Is Ending" by Renee Maskin




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 10/22/2026






 

MORE NEWS

(NEW YORK, NY) -- On Friday, October 30, 2026, The Cutting Room hosts Tripi: Close to Fire - A Grief Support Benefit Concert. It marks the release of Tony Tripi's album Close to Fire: Roman's Anthology Release Part I and continues the album's mission of turning grief into remembrance, connection, and community. Showtime is 9:00pm.


Founder of The Jersey Pops Orchestra releases Christmas Album




Roy's Hall to Host Peter Karp Record Release Show on November 6th




Levoy Theatre presents Broken Arrow - A Tribute to Neil Young on Friday




MPAC presents The Mavericks on Thursday






 

UPCOMING SHOWS


State Theatre New Jersey presents Get the Led Out on October 30th

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Get The Led Out on Friday, October 30, 2026 at 8:00pm. From bombastic and epic to the folky and mystical, Get The Led Out (GTLO) have captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage. The Philadelphia-based group consists of six veteran musicians intent on delivering.


The Lizzie Rose Halloween Spectacular takes place October 30th




Songwriters in the Pines Returns to Albert Music Hall on Friday




Outpost in the Burbs presents Suzanne Vega on Friday






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