Nila Kay is a singer/songwriter and guitarist based in the DC area. She was born in an apartment on Rhode Island Avenue in Washington D.C. and grew up in Northern, VA. After taking a guitar class in highschool, she stuck with it and wound up working for a year at Dan's Chelsea Guitars in NYC, where she developed a love and desire to play and own vintage guitars that she could never possibly afford (of which she has 2). Not long after moving back to NoVA Nila began playing guitar with the hip-hop band Urban Minds (one of D.C.'s first live hip-hop bands), and shortly after that she began her songwriting career.

Currently preparing for the release of her debut album, Nila continues to perform locally and nationally. She also plays lead and rhythm guitar in the backing bands for several rising independant artists and also plays with The Players, backing band for DC's annual J Dilla Tribute/Fundraiser event.

Getting outside herself by going deeper within, Nila Kay sometimes flirts with jazz, sometimes jazzes up funk, and sometimes strips down pretty pop to its quintessential bare acoustic soul. But she always keeps the electricity arcing inward where the mood is simultaneously raw and tender, vulnerable and bold. Hers is the soulful collaboration of a streetwise mother and a visionary child.

Notable Acomplishments:

-Earned a Master Songwriting/Guitar Certificate from Berkleemusic.com

-Featured artist on Berkleemusic.com's CMJ Playlist 2009 and 2010

-Member of backing band "The Players" for the annual DC Loves Dilla Tribute show, which features special guests such as Talib Kweli, Pete Rock, Slum Village, and Raheem Devaughn. This event sells out leading DC venues, most recently The Black Cat.

-Lead/rhythm guitarist for rising artists Ne'a Posey and Suga SP