“Janani K. Jha (formerly known as J. Maya) is accustomed to breaking barriers. After graduating with academic honors from Harvard College in 2020 and earning acceptance to Harvard Law School at the age of twenty, Janani decided to defer her legal ambitions to pursue her lifelong pipe dream: music. With millions of followers and listeners across different platforms, she has transformed this dream into an impressive reality.

Driven by a deep love of wordplay, she used to compete as a teenager on the international pun circuit, where contestants create puns within five seconds on themes introduced on the spot. Crowned as the world championships’ MVP at the age of seventeen, she became the youngest pun championships award-winner in history.

Her fascination with language manifests in her music. In 2021, Janani published a demo of a Greek mythology-inspired pop song, “Achilles Heel,” online, where it generated millions of views. Bestselling authors commended the song’s wit and lyricism; music critics praised the soaring vocals and gritty sound. Upon its release as her debut single, Janani began writing more literature-infused music in earnest and sharing it with her audience of millions. She’s been praised since for her “whip-smart” “hit[s]” and named as one of the freshest voices in pop by media institutions like VOGUE, Forbes, NME, and the Recording Academy.

With her debut album set to release in 2024 and planned ventures in film and theater, Janani is just getting started.“ – Spotify Artist Bio.