Born and raised in small-town Michigan, at the age of 16 Paytra bought a one-way ticket, moved to New York City to pursue her music career, and never looked back. Young and naive, she wasn’t prepared for the turbulent and often vicious tactics of the music industry in the most competitive city in the world. She found herself in the midst of it all, hustling to make ends meet, managing her new-found independence, dealing with shady industry professionals, and quickly realizing just how challenging it would be for a young female with big dreams and a lot to say. She knew that if she was going to make it in this city, she needed to up her game: musically, mentally, and physically. She dedicated herself to hours of dance classes, vocal lessons, rehearsals, and performances. She committed herself to her craft and learned to swim in a city full of sharks.

 

The journey of overcoming in order to become who she needed to be was painful but also empowering. It fuels the fire behind her lyrics; you can feel Paytra’s fear, rage, anxiety, passion, and strength in the music. The once shy and sweet girl became the strong, fierce, no-bullshit-taking woman she had to be in order to survive and thrive. Her music delivers foundational messages of equality, change, freedom, and strength, wrapped in swagger, inspiration, and joy. She cheers you on, lifts you up, and challenges you to fearlessly and relentlessly chase your dreams… regardless of what anyone says. Paytra raises a middle finger to the status quo, marching triumphantly towards the road less traveled. The shy girl has found her voice.

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Musically, Paytra forges her own path. From her beginnings in more traditional 808-based pop/hiphop, she's developed a new sound that blends modern elements with her R&B, alternative, funk, and soul influences from the '90s and '70s. A lyrical force to be reckoned with, Paytra champions the often unheard voices of young women. She speaks from her own experiences of moving from suburban Detroit to NYC by herself at the age 16, where she learned to navigate the gauntlet of a male-dominated music industry. Paytra sings of self-reliance, self-compassion, sexism, racism, financial independence, sexuality, and sisterhood. And yet somehow despite the massive weight of these topics, the music is fun, exciting, and joyous. 

 

What is evident from meeting her (or following her on social media), is that she is both confident and humble. While she works harder in a day than many people work in a week, she's still able to not take herself too seriously. She is genuine and quick to humor as well as compassion. Through her experiences, she developed a true passion for being an unfiltered voice for women, inspiring them to claim space and trust their own voices. This comes through in her lyrics, which often blend strength, vulnerability, motivation, and inspiration.

 

At age 25, Paytra found her opportunity to support women entrepreneurs by investing in them through venture capital. She joined the executive board at the VC syndicate company Founders Committee with the mission to pave the way for women to be successful and claim space in industries that have been historically male-dominated.

 

With a solid and dedicated team behind her, Paytra continues to build her company and her brand. She regularly collaborates with other artists and producers, expanding and diversifying her catalog. She has a growing presence on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and other social platforms. Her company Paytra Publishing has partnerships in place with libraries and sync agencies to secure licensed placements in television, film, and advertising. 

 

Her music is a vessel to her mission: speaking about tough topics and the hard truths of womanhood. This fearless and self-assured popstar is bringing more than just catchy hooks to pop music: she’s bringing change. Paytra isn’t afraid to speak her truth and go against the mold. For this reason, she’s not only become known as a business mogul, but a fierce symbol of feminism, strength, and power. Her music stands for just that. Paytra is a force to be reckoned with and definitely one to watch.

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In 2023, Paytra turns it up even more, first with the five-song EP "Momma Taught Me How To Fight" followed by her full-length album "Tiny But Mighty," a tour-de-force of self-expression and a master class in hook-laden, genre-blending pop. She says, "50% I don't know WTF I'm doing, 100% I'm gonna change the world." She will do it, and you'll want to be there for the ride.

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TLC, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Doja Cat, Lizzo, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Halsey, Becky G, Britney Spears, The Pussycat Dolls, Missy Elliott, Cardi B, Katy Perry, Lauryn Hill, SZA