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Aja Volkman

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Aja Volkman
Volkman with Nico Vega in 2011
Volkman with Nico Vega in 2011
Background information
Born (1980-03-04) March 4, 1980 (age 44)
OriginEugene, Oregon, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2005–present
LabelsFive Seven Music
Member ofNico Vega
Formerly ofEgyptian
Websitenicovega.com

Aja Volkman (/ˈeɪʒə/ ⓘ; born March 4, 1980)[1] is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the frontwoman of the indie rock band Nico Vega.[2] She has also released an EP titled Egyptian as a duo with her then husband Dan Reynolds (of Imagine Dragons) under the moniker Egyptian.[3]

Personal life

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Volkman is the daughter of James Volkman and artist Rogene Manas. She attended South Eugene High School and graduated in the class of 1998 at the age of 18.[4] She was married to the lead singer of Imagine Dragons, Dan Reynolds, on March 5, 2011.[5] They have three daughters and a son. Their oldest daughter was born August 2012, fraternal twin girls in March 2017, and their son in October 2019.[6][7][8] On April 26, 2018, Reynolds announced that he and Volkman would divorce after 7 years of marriage.[9] Volkman confirmed the pending divorce the following day.[10] However, on November 6, 2018, along with the release of the Imagine Dragons song "Bad Liar", Reynolds announced that he and Volkman were dating once again and that she helped co-write the song with him earlier in the year. After four more years together, they announced that they had separated once again on September 16, 2022. Volkman filed for divorce the following April, which was then finalized in March 2024.

Career

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Nico Vega (2005–present)

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Aja Volkman with Nico Vega

Volkman was approached by Michael Peña after a solo performance in 2005.[11] Although Peña later left the band to pursue acting, Dan Epand (drummer) joined and this formed the basic structure of Nico Vega in 2007.[11] The band released a series of EPs. They signed to now defunct MySpace Records. Two years later the band released their debut eponymous album. Three tracks off of the album were produced by Linda Perry (Pink, Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani) and the rest were produced by Tim Edgar. The album was mixed by Tchad Blake (The Black Keys, Sheryl Crow).[12] Nico Vega performed on Last Call with Carson Daly later that year and then toured for the next couple years. They toured extensively with artists including Gavin Rossdale (of Bush), Manic Street Preachers, Imagine Dragons, She Wants Revenge, and Blondie. They have also opened for No Doubt.[13] During this time the band signed to Five Seven Music. Their single "Beast" gained popularity in 2013 through BioShock Infinite advertisements, resulting in more than five million combined downloads and streams.[14]

Their second album, Lead to Light, was released on July 22, 2014, and featured production from Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons, X Ambassadors), Tony Hoffer (Beck, Fitz and the Tantrums), and Tim Edgar (Nico Vega).[14] Their single "I Believe (Get Over Yourself)" was co-written by Volkman's husband, Reynolds.[14][15] Track "Lightning" was co-written with Adam Bravin and Justin Warfield of rock group She Wants Revenge.

Aja Volkman and Dan Epand created a new band, named TWWO, and put out an EP, "Pull The Knife Out", in July 2020.

Egyptian (2010–2011)

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Invited to perform an opening set for Nico Vega, Reynolds met Volkman in 2010. He invited her to help him finish some demos he was working on.[3][16] The two began a collaborative process which they titled Egyptian.[3] They recorded and released independently a four track eponymous EP digitally.[17]

They have performed this material once at the M Resort in Las Vegas.

Solo career (2015–present)

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In 2015, Reynolds mentioned that Volkman is working on a solo project.[18] Album Sandy was released on May 19, 2017, and featured lead single "My Man".[19] The album features production by Joshua James and producer Tim Edgar (Nico Vega, Imagine Dragons).

Discography

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Nico Vega

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Egyptian

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TWWO

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  • Pull the Knife Out EP (2020)[22]

Solo

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Other appearances

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References

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  1. ^ "Aja Volkman on Instagram: "Today I am 40 years. 7 years older than my husband."". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  2. ^ "Nico Vega Unleash Heavy Hooks on 'Fury Oh Fury' – EP Premiere". Rolling Stone. January 30, 2013. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Darby, Heidi (July 25, 2012). "Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds and Nico Vega's Aja Volkman-Reynolds' Weirdly Perfect Romance". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Markstrom, Serena (October 5, 2007). "Nico Vega singer finds her calling on a different stage". The Register-Guard – via Free Online Library.
  5. ^ "Nico Vega's Aja Volkman on marrying Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds and bringing their baby on tour". Las Vegas Weekly. February 5, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  6. ^ "Celebrity Baby Scoop Interviews Nico Vega's Lead Singer, Aja Volkman". To the Motherhood. December 3, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  7. ^ Juneau, Jen. "Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds Welcomes Twin Daughters Gia James and Coco Rae". People. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  8. ^ Dan Reynolds [@DanReynolds] (October 1, 2019). "As today marks the 2nd anniversary of our most tragic day in Vegas, it now also represents the day that we celebrate the birth of new life. We are truly feeling #VegasStrong today" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Dan Reynolds [@DanReynolds] (April 26, 2018). "After 7 beautiful years together, Aja and I's marriage has come to an end. Our children continue to be the most important thing in our lives, & we will continue to co-parent them with all our love" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ^ "Aja Volkman on Instagram: "🕊"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Matthews, Edward (February 13, 2014). "Nico Vega aiming for wider reach". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on February 24, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  12. ^ "Nico Vega – Nico Vega | Credits". AllMusic. February 3, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  13. ^ Witt, Britt (September 27, 2011). "Video: Nico Vega – "We Are The Art"". Indie Rock Reviews. Archived from the original on March 16, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  14. ^ a b c "Press Release: Nico Vega Launches New Single "I Believe" Kicks Off Tour with Imagine Dragons". Nico Vega. February 10, 2014. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  15. ^ Rahman, Ray (February 14, 2014). "Hear Nico Vega's new single 'I Believe (Get Over Yourself)'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  16. ^ "I'll Wait For You by Egyptian @ Rock N Roll Wine in Las Vegas". July 3, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2012 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ a b "Egyptian – EP by Egyptian". iTunes. April 18, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  18. ^ "The PV Q&A: Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds on Depression: 'This was everything we could have ever hoped for, but on the same note, it's probably the lowest I've ever been in my life.'". Purevolume.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  19. ^ Volkman, Aja (May 4, 2017). "Single Review: "My Man"". HuffPost. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  20. ^ "Nico Vega by Nico Vega on Apple Music". iTunes. February 3, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  21. ^ "Lead To Light by Nico Vega on Apple Music". iTunes. July 22, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  22. ^ "TWO, formerly of Nico Vega, Release Track-by-Track of New Album, 'Pull The Knife Out'". American Songwriter. July 21, 2020.
  23. ^ "This Friday my new record "Sandy" goes up for pre-order". Instagram. April 17, 2017. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  24. ^ "Love Death Immortality by The Glitch Mob on Apple Music". iTunes. February 11, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
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