Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Tynes

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

Born in the breathtaking, maritime city, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, I was born to sing! My father and his siblings all sang and or played guitar and bass guitar. During family events, I always got to have my 15 minutes of fame. lol

My name is Veronica Tynes aka “LayDee Vee”, I began to grace the world with The Creators, gift of voice, at the tender age of nine. This is when I realized, I was pretty good at it.

It was during my young adulthood, highly blessed by this gift, is when I started to sing professionally. Young and eager, I began singing for the well received and immensely broadcasted televised production “God’s Trombone”, directed by none other than the actor and Playwriter, the phenomenal Walter Borden.
This esteemed performance, was only the start of many breath taking spotlights, I would endure in my career, as a vocalist.

Marching forward, I had illuminated the stage, alongside gospel legendary Cissy Houston and The Barrett Sisters, to name a few, during the live performance of “God’s Trombone, during the first “Gospel Festival” ever to done in Halifax, Nova Scotia. as a soloist, with the nationally renowned Nova Scotia Mass Choir.

My noteworthy resume doesn’t slow there! Recruited by a group of amazing musicians, in Halifax, who have played for artists across North America, mentor guitarist and teacher, Ross Anderson, percussionist Gary Steed, Bassists Stevie Lawrence and Terry Grant, taught me the ability to rock, swoon and blow the roof off an audience! This took me across the Canadian border to Washington, D.C. where once again, I was blessed to lead the way, as a gospel soloist, at the Martin Luther King memorial, sharing the historical moment with the choir backing the one and only Shirley Caesar, late great Billy Preston, Patti Austin and more.

Again, rising higher than I ever expected, I secured being cast in the Halifax’ production of the hit stage play, “Little Shop of Horrors”; performing inside the reputable Neptune Theatre, being one of the first local, Afro-Indigenous Canadians to be casted on their stage.

Hard work and success continued, as the front and lead singer in a groove jiving 9-piece band called ‘Profile’.
Singing my way to understanding what it means to be not only a vocalist but and entertainer. I embodied hard work, determination and the sound of our era with ease and utmost appeal.

Later, invited to sing the national anthem for the memorial cup, in London, Ontario during the the strike of the NHL.

It wasn’t long before I migrated to Toronto, where the red carpets were ablaze for me to open for exhilarating acts like, Tarrus Riley, Luciano. Never stopping, I got the chance to be a lead vocalist along side popular Canadian band ‘Something Extra’ with Vance Mckenzie, where yet again, blessed to moved crowd after crowd for close to a decade.

A time later, as a solo vocalist on Canada’s renowned 70’s & 80’s tribute show “Legends of Soul” and also my very own R&B/Soul/Reggae band, I’m still moving audiences with my current band, lead by myself and Wyz Malcolm, my musical director, and former member of the Canadian Juno winning, reggae group, Messenjah. The band is called “Laydee Vee – Wyz Malcolm and The Sound.”

The band consists of musicians; Charles St. Clair, bassist, of the former reggae group, ‘Messenjah, percussionist, O’Neil ‘Drummy” Fuller and guitarist/artist Gary Guits Lyttle. An amazing group of fantastic musicians, I have the pleasure to be working with!

I released my first solo project in 2021, independently with Dennis Nieves of D-Menace Music the Co-Writer/ Producer/ engineer of the project. Along with my production coordinator, country’s well known DJ, the late Deejay Marlon Mack of Keysound Productions, Deejay Marlon Mack (Marlon Mackenzie) was a huge influence on my career the last eight years before his transition. Not only was he my backbone in this industry, taught me the business side of being an independent artist, but my best friend, before he transitioned. I miss him immensely, but he continues to work his magic for me presently, from the spirit world. :) Wyz Malcolm was also the (Music Arranger) and keyboardist on this project, Vance Mckenzie on guitar and Charles St. Clair on bass.

With reggae music always my passion from a young adult, I released, in November 2022, a song with international reggae artist, Sizzla Kalonji titled “ Style of your Stars, produced by Altafaan Records and her own corporation VCJ Productions. This song introduces her daughter Quezi Bey, who not only sang on this masterpiece, but co-wrote as well! As well, just recently collaborated with Jamaican reggae artist Xellent and Canadian reggae artist Grizzly Cat, singing and co-writing the song “We Are One”.

Presently, I’m releasing a song, produced by Charles St. Clair and working aside the great Canadian producer and Juno award winning, Eddie Bullen. Music coming your way this summer! The empowerment of my single NO TIME FOR YOU will surely show you where myself, as a seasoned female vocalist is headed!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

The fact that, early in the start of my career, I had platforms, to perform from, I had many musical mentors in this music industry, as mentioned before, a smooth road to learning my craft.

This is why, I created the production company, VCJ Productions, with my daughter and son in-law, as share holders, Jacques and Calvin Minors. I wanted to give the opportunity to the young artists coming up, to have the privilege of a platform to create music, as I did.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I’m very proud of the opportunities given to me, to learn to create music. It’s my stress reliever and my home, to entertain on stage! It’s something I know, I do well. But, I am also very proud of my culture, my Afro-Indigenous roots being from my home, Nova Scotia, which houses many fantastic artists of amazing talent!

This is why, not only am I, a professional artist of music, but I am a Counsellor of Indigenous Women in Toronto. I was chosen spiritually, to guide and educate our women to healing, culturally because of Intergenerational trauma. The intergenerational and grief, from the historical trauma experienced by indigenous people, is passed from generation to generation due to forced relocation, land dispossession, and loss of spiritual practices, languages and culture. These are both my calling and passion from The Creator. I’m certainly blessed.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Being a seasoned artist out here, re-vamping her career, I’d like to send the message to the young artist coming up to never give up on your dreams! With hard work and determination, all is possible. To the seasoned artists like myself, age is only a number! When you worked hard on your craft, the stage is always there for you to return to and continue to put smiles on faces! I again I thank my guardian angel Deejay Marlon Mack (Marlon MacKenzie) for this, he instilled that message in me!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://laydeevee.ca
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laydeevee45?igsh=MXJicTJlMTE2YW05MA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LayDeeVeeMusic?mibextid=kFxxJD
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@laydeevee?si=3U5w-1ker4lHt8Bm