Tyra Hammond

Singer Tyra Hammond is perhaps best known as one of the lead vocalists in Auckland band Opensouls, who blended genres with their soul, jazz and hip hop infused music. The group enjoyed two Top 40 charting albums in Aotearoa with Kaleidoscope in 2006 and Standing in the Rain in 2009, before splitting in 2011. Hammond also fronted Opensouls side project The Tornadoes & Tyra Hammond, and was one third of hip hop crew Sheelahroc, alongside Voodoo Child and Ladi6. Hammond released a solo self-titled EP in 2015, and has collaborated with Scribe, The Side Steps Quintet and her ex bandmate Ladi6 (who is also her cousin).