
The "j" Is silent
Singer/Songwriter Silent St. j, perfectly marries Alternative Folk and soulful vocals creating an emotional resonance with her music. She has the ability to enchant her listeners with honest and captivating lyrics and her hauntingly soothing voice. Silent St. j sparks a sense of wonder in the hearts of any audience, taking them on a journey through the liminal spaces of her mind.
As a child, Silent St. j often spent her time lost in the depths of her thoughts and the vastness of her emotions. Inspired by cinema, she would imagine herself within narratives that would echo her reality. She began writing songs as a means to accompany the surreal movies that were playing in the back of her mind. To this day Silent St. j continues to use this method to create her music. Drawing inspiration from both TV & film, and especially her dreams. By blending her introspective lyrics and gentle guitar picking with a voice of velvet, Silent St. j invokes a hypnotic ambiance to produce her cinematic songs.
Based in the unceded and ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish Nations, Silent St. j has become a bright light in the local music scene. She has been featured as a musical guest on various local radio shows such as CiTR’s ‘The Medicine Show’ and CJSF’s ‘Melodies in Mind 2.0. Her enthralling songs and effervescent personality caught the attention of Vancouver-based label Terrified Swan Records. In 2018, her song “Coffee In the Morning'' was featured on their annual International Women’s Day mixtape. That same year, she shared the stage as a choir member with Grammy Award winning artist, Daniel Caesar at the Juno Awards. She has performed live at multiple Sofar Sound Vancouver shows, and performed at the 2019 Winnipeg Folk Festival, participating in their prestigious Stingray Young Performers Program. Silent St. j also had the privilege of being mentored by Juno Award winning singer/songwriter William Prince. Although COVID-19 took a toll on live performances, Silent St. j continued to share her music. She had the pleasure of headlining the virtual edition of Commercial Drive's annual Car Free Day festival in 2020, as well as performing at the FAR-West 2021 Virtual Conference. Throughout the pandemic, Silent St. j continued writing and creating new ways to expand her sound. In 2021 she began recording what will be her first full length project. She was also honoured to work with the owners of Capsule Studios and creative directors of the Producers Lounge series, Jane Aurora and Mary Ancheta on her debut single “Veiled” released in spring 2022.
Music
“Lajla is one of the most exciting young artists I have had the pleasure of working with. Her atmospheric presence and exceptional lyricism helps Lajla create peaceful and thoughtful music. She has a bright future in front of her.”
- Michael Kananoja
Winnipeg Folk Festival