Shakaya facts for kids

Shakaya is an Australian girl group that started in Cairns, Queensland, in 2002. The group was formed by two talented singers, Simone Stacey and Naomi Wenitong. They first met in 1999 while studying a music course about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music. Both Simone and Naomi were already writing their own songs before they met.

They were discovered in Cairns by Reno Nicastro and Michael Pearson-Adams. Reno Nicastro helped them a lot by producing most of their songs and giving them free studio time for two years.

The name 'Shakaya' was almost 'Kashaya'. Their manager mixed the letters around, and it became 'Shakaya'. Simone and Naomi researched the name and found it has many meanings in different cultures. The meaning "voices in the wind" really stood out to them. For a while, Shakaya was one of Australia's most successful female pop groups. They even toured with famous artists like Destiny's Child, Usher, Kylie Minogue, and Ja Rule.

After the group stopped performing for a while, Naomi joined a hip hop group called The Last Kinection. In 2013, Simone tried out for The Voice Australia. She impressed three judges and chose Seal as her coach.

Music Journey

Starting Out: 2002–2003

In August 2001, the girls had an important meeting with Sony Music in Sydney. They performed four songs in a small room. Just five minutes after they finished, Sony Music offered them a record deal!

Their first song, "Stop Calling Me", was released on January 18, 2002. This song was about real-life experiences with stalking. It quickly became a hit, reaching number five on the music charts. "Stop Calling Me" was Shakaya's biggest song. It was certified platinum, meaning it sold a lot of copies. It was also nominated for "Highest Selling Single" at the 2002 ARIA Awards.

Their second song, "Sublime", came out on May 17, 2002. It also did well, reaching number nineteen on the charts. The third song, "Cinderella", was another top twenty hit, peaking at number sixteen. It was certified gold.

Shakaya's first album, also called Shakaya, was released on October 18, 2002. It was very popular and debuted at number five on the album charts. In April 2003, the group released their version of Michael Jackson's famous song "The Way You Make Me Feel". They said it was amazing to cover a song by the "King of Pop." This song reached number twenty-one on the charts.

Second Album: 2005–2006

Shakaya's second album, Are You Ready, took about eighteen months to record. They worked in Cairns, Sydney, and the United States with different music producers.

The first song from this album was also called "Are You Ready". It was released on June 10, 2005. This song was written and produced by the MadNotes team, who had worked with artists like Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake. "Are You Ready" reached number twenty-five on the singles chart.

Five months later, on November 13, 2005, they released their last song from the album, "We Ain't Goin' Down". This song reached number fifty on the charts. The album Are You Ready was released on March 5, 2006, but it did not make it into the top 100 albums chart.

The group stopped performing together in 2006 because Naomi Wenitong joined another group called The Last Kinection.

Coming Back Together: 2021–Present

In October 2021, Naomi Wenitong and Simone Stacey reunited as Shakaya! This was their first performance together in over 15 years. They performed at the Pride Fair Day in their hometown of Cairns.

They also performed at the Yabun Festival in January 2022. They are also planning to perform at the Quandamooka Festival on Stradbroke Island in August 2022.

Music Releases

Albums

Songs (Singles)

Awards and Recognition

ARIA Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are a big yearly event that celebrates the best in Australian music.

Deadly Awards

The Deadly Awards were a special yearly event that celebrated the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in music, sports, and entertainment. They took place from 1996 to 2013.