Biography

Rarely does an artist create a piece that is truly transcendent, however the new spoken word CD project “ I See You” from Donalja James is precisely that.
Originally born in Chicago to a single mother, Donalja began to truly develop as a writer at the young age of seven. Donalja, also known as “The Voiceness”, is much more than a poet; she is an activist and advocate for women’s rights and empowerment. In this project, Donalja gives us poignant insight into how she recovered from gang rape, abandonment, domestic violence and the psychological attributed to it. “I See You” celebrates the indomitable will to overcome what seemed to be insurmountable odds and a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit as she conquered her circumstances and reclaimed herself. This victim turned advocate shows others how to not only be a survivor but and overcomer. She has shared stages in the poetry arena with Anthony Hamilton, Michael Baisden, BR Burns, Mike Phillips, Lyfe Jennings and HBO Def Poets Abyss, Helena D. Lewis, Mahogany Brown, Queen Sheba and many more. She has taken her experiences on stage and placed it into this CD compilation. From “Love/Hate” the song about domestic violence, to the soulful “House of Jazz” about escaping from life’s problems if only temporary, to “Queen” the celebration of womanhood and black pride to the melodic “Can I?” that talks of desired love almost desperate for acceptance; the CD “I See You” is much more than a poetry set to great music. It is an experience and may well be regarded as an anthem to not only women’s struggles but their amazing capacity to overcome them. Produced by Grammy award winning songwriter Rasheem Pugh, musicians extradonaire Chris Robinson and Valerie D. Johnson, this CD is a must have for its pounding Miami-flavored salsa to its down home New Orleans blues and riveting messages of social consciousness.