Gaya’
Biography
Gaya’ (real name Stephanie Haley) is an American house, eurodance and italodance artist, born on February 9, 1975 in Buffalo.
Raised in a musical family environment, she sang gospel and folk music in churches and prisons during her childhood. After university studies in art, singing and theater, she moved to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a singer, performing in clubs and working as a waitress.
It was in this restaurant that she happened to meet Italian producer Roby Achilli, who—intrigued by the praise he had heard about her—came to listen to her sing. This decisive encounter launched her career.
Her debut single, Lovin' The Way, written by Marco Mazzantini and arranged by the Bliss Team, was released in 1995 on the J&Q Records label and achieved notable success in Italy.
In 1996 she released Sing Your Soul, a hit that was also distributed in Mexico and Spain.
At the end of March 1998, It's Love was issued, featuring a remix by Mario Fargetta. The single became a summer smash, entered all the dance charts and reached the top of the Italian sales charts, before being licensed internationally.
In December of the same year, Gaya’ released Shine On Me, once again in collaboration with Marco Mazzantini. The single quickly reached No. 9 in the Italian charts.
On October 22, 1999, I Keep On Dreaming was released, accompanied by a music video. Remixed by Mario Fargetta, the track became a staple of the 1999/2000 winter season on networks and radio.
That same year, she made her film debut playing herself in *Senza paura*.
Her biggest hit, Never Meet, came out in May 2000. Written by Marco Mazzantini, the single offered dance versions by Mario Fargetta and an alternative pop version by the band Bedroom Rockers. It topped the Italian dance and pop charts, became a true summer anthem, and went on to enjoy comparable success abroad.
In 2008, Never Meet was reissued in a Hard Dance Style version by the DJ team of radio station m2o.
In 2014, fifteen years after that hit, Gaya’ returned online through her official profiles and a website, managed by Mark C. Ratti in collaboration with Stephanie Haley herself, composer Marco Mazzantini, and manager Paolo Moretti.