Quiana Lynell

Singer • Songwriter • Educator • The Hip-Shakin’ Momma

Singer and songwriter Quiana Lynell approaches music with a rare combination of grace and grit. A multi-faceted artist whose voice moves effortlessly across jazz, soul, blues, gospel, R&B, and beyond, she is a living masterclass in musical freedom — rooted in tradition, guided by spirit, and propelled by fearless joy.

Born in Tyler, Texas and raised in the church, Quiana’s earliest musical foundation was gospel. Secular music was not permitted in her childhood home, but she always knew her voice belonged to many worlds. Thanks to a public school system that valued arts education from kindergarten, she developed an early understanding of music’s structure and power. Those formative experiences led her to Louisiana State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music refining both her classical technique and her boundless curiosity.

After years of honing her craft across the country, 2017 marked a pivotal turning point. That spring, Quiana performed with her trio at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival — a moment that opened the door to international stages, including a performance in Poland with Terence Blanchard’s Spike Lee Tribute, backed by a 75-piece orchestra. That same year, after years of quiet consideration, she entered the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. On the finals stage at NJPAC’s Victoria Theater, Quiana delivered a performance of such authority, soul, and spiritual courage that she captured the top prize, earning a recording contract with Concord Records.

Her debut album, A Little Love (2019), produced by Brian Michel Bacchus, stands as a testament to that moment — a record steeped in warmth, vulnerability, and vocal mastery. Yet even at this career milestone, Quiana remained grounded in her deeper purpose: using music as a tool for connection, healing, and memory-making.

That purpose expanded with the release of her 2023 album, Pillow Talk — a deeply personal and sensual project that explored intimacy, softness, self-reflection, and emotional truth. Pillow Talk marked a shift toward greater artistic autonomy and vulnerability, inviting listeners into a quieter, more intimate sonic space while reinforcing Quiana’s belief that music can be both tender and transformative.

Throughout her career, Quiana has treated every performance — whether in an intimate club or a grand concert hall — as an opportunity to build the soundtrack of people’s lives. As a bandleader or collaborator, she guides listeners on a journey, allowing the simplest melodies to unfold into moments of deep emotional resonance. Her music centers love, self-worth, and respect, offering uplift to the brokenhearted and reminding audiences that the past does not dictate the future.

A true vocal athlete, Quiana harnesses her voice as a complete instrument, performing across genres with precision, authenticity, and reverence. She is equally at home as a clinician, performer, arranger, bandleader, and songwriter, and has shared stages with an extraordinary range of artists including Nicholas Payton, Tank and the Bangas, Patti Austin, Ledisi, Herbie Hancock, Jon Batiste, and many others. Her performances have graced iconic venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center (Dizzy’s Club), Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Marian’s Jazz Room, and the Playboy Jazz Festival.

In recent years, Quiana’s artistry has expanded even further. She is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, recognized for her co-writing on “Close to Me” (track 7) from the album Church of New Orleans, released with her longtime collaborator under her independent imprint, Q Sound Records. She has released and appeared on singles spanning genres and generations, including reinterpretations of “Fly Like an Eagle” (Steve Miller Band), “Why Can’t We Be Friends” (WAR), and the soulful collaboration “Let Life Flow” with blues icon Kenny Neal.

In 2025, Quiana toured 11 weeks with Jazz at Lincoln Center, continuing to bring her distinctive blend of New Orleans steeped soul, jazz tradition, and lived experience to new audiences around the world. She is currently preparing for the release of her forthcoming album, Black Magic, arriving April 2026 — a bold, embodied project rooted in freedom, resilience, and spiritual power.

Education and mentorship have always been central to Quiana’s mission. With over 22 years of experience teaching voice, she emphasizes wellness, longevity, and alignment — believing deeply that the body is the instrument. Her academic and leadership roles have included serving as a Recording Academy Governor and Vice President of the Memphis Chapter, Artist-in-Residence at Interlochen Center for the Arts, four years as a Jazz and Popular Music professor at Loyola University New Orleans, and ongoing partnership with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and the Trombone Shorty Foundation.

Her impact extends beyond music. Quiana has been awarded Keys to the City from Donaldsonville, Gonzales, and Baton Rouge, and was honored with the 2022 Baton Rouge Legacy Award for her cultural and community contributions.

Offstage, Quiana invites fans into her health and wellness world through Cooking with Quiana, a long-form cooking and wellness series where food, fitness, humor, and music intersect. The show reflects her holistic philosophy: nourishment fuels creativity, joy sustains discipline, and community is everything. Whether she’s sharing a recipe, leading a sound-healing session, or dancing on TikTok, Quiana’s authenticity shines.

Known affectionately as “The Hip-Shakin’ Momma,” Quiana Lynell embodies freedom — in voice, in body, and in spirit. She creates spaces where women are seen and heard, where music is medicine, and where every note invites listeners to come alive.