Give Me 1 Reason

Ashanti Edwards as Danielle

HELLO ALL!!! It's none other than.... Ashanti Freeman-Edwards, of Ypsilanti, Michigan. She has been developing her musical gifts of singing and reciting poetry since age five. Deeply rooted in the church, her family supported her passion to pursue music career and now stage performance. In her youth, she was given the opportunity to become a student of Mattie Moss-Clark Conservatory School of Music in Detroit, Michigan. There she focused studying piano and vocal training. At the age of 16, she became a member of group Detroit V.O.I.C.E. under the directionof Bill Moss Jr. As a result, she lent my talents as background vocalist on The Bill Moss Jr. project, Manifested Favor: Live in Detroit.

In 2004, she became a background vocalist for PAJAM-MUSIC under leadership of producers Paul "PDA" Allen, Walter Kearney, and J. Moss. After meeting all requirements of the auditioning process, she soon began recording in the studio, and traveling along side gospel trio 21:03, and Tracy Bryant of gospel group RAMIYAH on CD projects such as Top 25 Gospel Praise and Worship Songs, Byron Cage: The Proclamation and Bobby Jones The Ambassador.

During that time, she created awesome memories being blessed to travel the country with many recording artists and is truly grateful for the growth and development she experienced touring with J. Moss as a background vocalist. And also blessed to minister on the stage of the 2008 Gospel Stellar Awards,Atlanta's 2008 Front Row Live, 2009 TBN, and 2010 Atlantic City GospelFest. Soon following, Ashanti learned of auditions being held for the hit stage play "Which Way is Up" in which she was cast to play the role of Mia.

Between all the traveling, studio recordings and rehearsal times, Ashanti loves to spend time with her family. She is a very family oriented woman. Recently she had been asked a array of questions, wanting to know who is Ashanti?...  Ashanti is a hard worker and mother. She enjoys watching reality shows such as ATL Housewives, Love and Hip Hop and The Braxtons. Even though the shows are filled with nothing but drama, Ashanti thinks she would love to play a drama filled role, it's so outside of her character, as it would be something different. The question that stood out the most. If my life was a movie, who would play Ashanti?. One wonderfully, talented women stuck out like a sore thumb. The fabulous Jill Scott. Ashanti has been told on many occassions that she favors her in looks and vocal ability.

Ashanti is a woman that loves to reinvent herself within her two life long passions. Being a hair designer at Penthouse Hair Designs in Ypsilanti and continuing to develop her God given musical gifts of song and theater. Ashanti is also currently a student at Washtenaw Community College studying in Arts of Music. In the fall of 2013 she hopes to continue her studies at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor to pursue a degree in Performing Arts Theater and Opera.