Tasha Layton (born October 27, 1982)[1][2] is an American contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter and author.[3]
Tasha Layton | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 27, 1982 |
| Genres | Contemporary Christian music |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, Author |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Labels | BEC |
| Website | tashalayton |
Layton had her first CCM radio hit in 2019 with her debut radio single "Love Lifting Me".[4] However, her second radio single, "Into the Sea (It's Gonna Be OK)" released in 2020, has been labelled her breakthrough song, and has seen her elevated into the Billboard Top 5 Female Christian Artists in 2020.[5][6]
In 2021, her single "Look What You've Done" became her first top ten single on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and her first number one Christian Airplay single.[4] A Good Morning America segment introduced her as "one of the fastest rising stars in Christian music".[7]
In 2022, her debut album "How Far" was released in May. The title track has become her first top five single on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and her second number one Christian Airplay single.[4][8][9]
Early life and education
editLayton is originally from Pauline, South Carolina.[10] She grew up Southern Baptist and converted to Assemblies of God when she was young.[11] While she was a teenager, her church had undergone a split and she had struggles with her faith. She changed her college major from music to religion and tried out multiple religions.[12][11][13] She eventually returned to Christianity after attending a small church about an hour away.[11] After graduation from college, she moved to California and enrolled at The King's Seminary in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California where she got her Master of Divinity degree. During that time, Layton worked as a worship leader for four years and began working as a session vocalist in the city.[3]
Career
editIn 2010, she auditioned for season 9 of American Idol,[3] reaching the third round of its Hollywood week and was sent home.[2][14] Shortly after, she auditioned for and landed a background singer position for Katy Perry, and spent the next four years doing session recordings and tours. She also worked on songs used at Disneyland, Cirque du Soleil, and Nickelodeon.[3] Afterwards, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a solo music career, and in 2013 become an instructor at Trevecca Nazarene University.[3][12]
Layton signed to BEC Recordings, and on September 5, 2018, released her first single and lyric video, "I Belong to You".[15] In October, she released the single "Love Lifting Me".[11][16] "Love Lifting Me" reached the top 25 on both the Billboard Christian Airplay and Christian AC Airplay charts.[17][18]
In July 2019, she released her debut EP entitled Love Running Wild.[19][20][21]In April 2020, Layton released her second radio single, "Into The Sea". It reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart.[22]
In April 2021, she released the single "Look What You've Done",[23] and on June 11, an EP of the same name.[24][25][26] In December, the song reached number one on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart.[10][27][28]
Personal life
editLayton is married to musician and producer Keith Everette Smith.[3] They have two children.[15][29]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| How Far |
|
| This is Christmas |
|
EPs
edit| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Love Running Wild |
|
| Into the Sea[32] |
|
| Look What You've Done |
|
| This is Christmas[33][34] |
|
Singles released to radio
edit| Title | Year | Peak position | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ. [35] | US Christ. Airplay [17] | US Christ. AC [18] | |||
| "Love Lifting Me" | 2018 | 28 | 23 | 21 | Love Running Wild |
| "Into the Sea (It's Gonna Be OK)" | 2020 | 12 | 9 | 9 | Into the Sea |
| "Comfort and Joy"[36] | — | 36 | 16 | This is Christmas | |
| "Look What You've Done" | 2021 | 7 | 1 | 2 | Look What You've Done |
| "How Far"[30] | 2022 | 4 | 1 | 2 | How Far |
| "God Made a Way" with Brandon Heath | 25 | 6 | 2 | non-album singles | |
| "Never" | 2023 | ||||
As featured artist
edit| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| "Things That I'm Afraid Of" (Josh Wilson featuring Tasha Layton) | 2022 |
Other charting tracks
edit| Title | Year | Peak position | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ. [35] | US Christ. Airplay [17] | US Christ. AC [18] | |||
| "This is Christmas" | 2021 | — | 22 | 16 | This is Christmas |
| "Giving Christmas Away" | — | 50 | — | ||
References
edit- ^ Layton, Tasha (October 27, 2019). "It's Tasha's birthday, which signals my semi-annual hack on her account to tell you about it! (This is Keith, Tasha's husband if you couldn't tell.)". Retrieved November 6, 2021 – via Facebook.
- ^ a b Brokaw, Joanne (February 2010). "American Idol Season 9 Christian Artists". Beliefnet. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Cluver, Ross (March 4, 2019). "Getting to Know You — Tasha Layton". CCM Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Chart History - Tasha Layton". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
- ^ Longs, Herb. "Tasha Layton Soars Into Summer With Second Consecutive Top 10". The Christian Beat. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
- ^ "2020 Year-End Charts - Top Christian Artists - Female". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ^ 'American Idol' contender turns tragedy into hope. Good Morning America (Online video). ABC News. October 26, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
- ^ "Hot Christian Songs | October 8, 2022". Billboard.
- ^ "Christian Airplay Chart | October 8, 2022". Billboard.
- ^ a b Asker, Jim (December 1, 2021). "Tasha Layton & Jonathan Nelson Notch First No. 1s on Christian, Gospel Airplay Charts". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "10 Questions with ... Tasha Layton". AllAccess.com. All Access Music Group.
- ^ a b Cummings, Tony. "Tasha Layton: The Nashville-based singer with the "Love Lifting Me" radio hit". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ Woolun, Brandon (September 4, 2019). "Tasha Layton Shares Her Testimony". CCM Magazine. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ "Tasha Layton". BEC Worship. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ a b "BEC Recordings Announces The Signing, Debut Single From Tasha Layton" (Press release). September 5, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2021 – via Gospel Music Association.
- ^ Andre, Joshua (October 19, 2018). "Music Reviews - Tasha Layton – Love Lifting Me (Single)". 365 Days Of Inspiring Media. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Chart History - Tasha Layton - Christian Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Chart History - Tasha Layton - Christian AC Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ^ Cluver, Ross (July 10, 2019). "Tasha Layton Releases New EP 'Love Running Wild'". CCM Magazine. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ Holden, Tim (August 29, 2019). "Tasha Layton - Love Running Wild". Cross Rhythms. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ Andre, Joshua (July 5, 2019). "Music Reviews – Tasha Layton – Love Running Wild (EP)". 365 Days Of Inspiring Media. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ^ "Tasha Layton". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
- ^ Clarks, Jessie (April 15, 2021). "Tasha Layton Releases "Look What You've Done"". The Christian Beat.
- ^ Clarks, Jessie (June 11, 2021). "Tasha Layton Releases 'Look What You've Done' EP". The Christian Beat.
- ^ Worship Leader and Recording Artist Tasha Layton Talks to CBN's Studio 5 About Her New Single. CBN News. August 25, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ Mitchell, McKenzie (July 9, 2021). "JFH Music Review – Tasha Layton – Look What You've Done (EP)". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
- ^ Clarks, Jessie (December 1, 2021). ""Look What You've Done" Reigns At Radio Becoming Tasha Layton's First #1 Hit". The Christian Beat. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "AMERICAN IDOL's Tasha Layton Shares Testimony in New Single, 'Look What You've Done'". Movieguide. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Tasha Layton Announces Birth Of New Baby". New Release Today. February 13, 2020.
- ^ a b "Tasha Layton to Release Full-length Debut Album 'How Far' May 13". April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
- ^ "NEW ALBUM: This Is Christmas By Tasha Layton". April 18, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
- ^ Andre, Joshua (September 21, 2020). "Music Reviews – Tasha Layton – Into the Sea (EP)". 365 Days Of Inspiring Media. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ^ Cluver, Ross (November 3, 2021). "Tasha Layton releases holiday project This Is Christmas". CCM Magazine.
- ^ "Tasha Layton Drops Debut Christmas Album". 94.9 KLTY. November 3, 2021.
- ^ a b "Chart History - Tasha Layton - Hot Christian Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
- ^ Williams, Lindsay (December 16, 2020). "Music News - Tasha Layton Brings "Comfort and Joy" to the Hurting This Christmas (2020)". KLOVE. Retrieved November 6, 2021.