Niya Cotton was born into music. With her dad as an original Richard Smallwood singer and her mom as a professional drummer, Niya was destined to find music as a way to communicate. Niya began singing at age 2 in her church youth choir and has never looked back. Niya graduated as salutatorian from Duke Ellington School of the Arts high school in Washington, D.C. as a dance major in 2000 and later graduated from Hampton University with a B.A. in Vocal Performance in 2004. Upon graduating from Hampton, Niya moved to Los Angeles, CA and worked in the TV Music department at Warner Brothers in Burbank. She even had the opportunity to write with television and film composer, Kurt Farquar, and have music placed on several television shows including “King of Queens” and “Just Jordan.” Niya has lent background vocals for Michael Bublé, Tasha Page-Lockhart, Tamela Mann, Chance the Rapper, Ledisi and was featured on Kirk Franklin’s song “Over” on his 2015 album “Losing My Religion”. Niya has worked and traveled with Kirk Franklin and the Fo Yo Soul family for several years as a reference artist and background vocalist for several projects including the 20th Century Fox movie, “Hidden Figures” and Tori Kelly’s Gospel album, “Hiding Place.” Niya Cotton is the CEO of “The Whole Tone LLC, ” a lifestyle brand that prioritizes wholeness in the areas of art, education and entertainment. Niya is a worship leader, creative director, artist, educator, mentor and speaker. Niya and her husband Roy are the proud parents of three amazingly hilarious children, “Rocco,” Eric Stone & Nyla Jade Cotton and reside in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area.
