Ms. Vee ( Akosua Valyria Arnold Afriyie) Singer, Musician, Writer, and Comedienne; 2023 Muddy Awards Nominee for Best Female Vocalist, 2021 Band & 2019 Solo Granite State Blues Challenge Winner & International Blues Challenge Semifinalist
Ms. Vee was born and raised in Forrest City Arkansas. At the age of 10, Ms. Vee began her musical journey as a piano student at Lorenzo’s School of Contemporary Music in Forrest City Arkansas. Founded by Lorenzo Smith and Jackie Toney Smith. Quickly realizing her ear for music, Lorenzo added Ms. Vee to his blues/jazz band at just 10 years old. She continued her professional career in music, serving as Minister of Music/Music Director for several East Arkansas Churches. Ms. Vee later went on to pursue a solo career in music and later comedy. As a result, Ms Vee’s style of Soul Blues is infused with black southern gospel and a lot of soul! In 2018, Ms Vee launched her own music project, founding Ms Vee and a Badass Band.
In New England, Ms Vee established “a Badass Band” of accomplished New Hampshire & Massachusetts based musicians..
Hailing from Arkansas by way of Memphis Tennessee, the award-winning Ms Vee brings powerhouse vocals and a razor sharp wit to every show.In January 2023, Ms Vee launched a Pacific Northwest configuration of Ms Vee and a Badass Band. Backed by some of the most accomplished musicians in Portland, including Chance Hayden, Jake Koprowski, Terrell “Peanut” Reed, Edwin Coleman III and Ron Solomon, Ms Vee and her Badass Band has been rocking houses since their 2022 debut. They’ve quickly risen to the top of the PDX music scene having played the Waterfront Blues Festival and Cathedral Park Jazz Festival while making regular appearances at Ilani Casino, Jack London Revue and Clyde’s Prime Rib.
Ms Vee brings a focus to Southern Soul/Soul-Blues’ Mississippi Delta/Arkansas Blues sound, by marrying soul, funk, and rhythm & blues to create the Blues-Soul Sound of Original Badass Music as well as covers of soul greats like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Rush, Bill Withers, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and more!
Ms Vee’s most recent project, is a collaboration with Lightning In a Bottle Artists Chad Rupp & the Sugar Roots’ Album titled “The Devil Won’t Get You” . Ms Vee lends lead vocals on the album’s sultry blues hit “I’ve Been Thinking“. Shealso sings background vocals for the album’s singles “The Devil Won’t Get You” and “You’re Not My Baby”
As a Memphis Tennessee transplant, Ms. Vee comedically chronicles her radical cultural transition from Memphis Tennessee to Berlin New Hampshire thru comedy and song. A member of the Granite State Blues Societyand Cascade Blues Society, known for her soulful blues and edgy & witty comedic timing, Vee is sure to keep you laughing and entertained! A pianist and singer for over 30 years, Vee has opened for artists Fantasia & Yo Gotti and now performs in the Pacific Northwest. She has performed standup comedy at Atlanta’s Uptown Comedy Club, The Other Bar Orlando, Bus Boys and Poets Washington DC and Manchester’s Madear’s.
As a bicoastal (Portland, Oregon/Berlin, New Hampshire) blues/jazz/funk/r&b/soul artist, Ms Vee currently books as a band (min Vocals/keyboard/guitar/bass/drums), duo, or guest vocalist.
Ms Vee is the mother of two amazing sons, Arreon and Spenser Lewis (Berlin, New Hampshire) and is the current Vice President of the American Federation of Musicians Local 99.
