Born on November 7, 1985, Laurena Davis was destined to sing her way into the nation’s story. The daughter of Cyrus Davis of John Hughes and the late Joycelyn Proctor-Davis of Swetes, she was raised along Desouza Road in Ottos. This community shaped her values of togetherness, generosity, and perseverance.
She began her schooling at Foundation Mixed Primary and continued at Ottos Comprehensive School, where she lived by the motto, “Success Through Perseverance.” Laurena often recalls her childhood with deep affection; a time when neighbours shared what little they had, and when kindness echoed from house to house. She remembers watching her mother give even when there was barely enough for their own household. Those early lessons in love and selflessness became the melody beneath everything she would later do.
Faith, Discipline, and the Birth of a Voice
Raised in a strong Christian home, Laurena’s upbringing came with clear rules: no secular music, no television beyond the evening news. A household where faith guided every decision. What might have felt restrictive to some, Laurena later saw as the foundation for her discipline, a quality that would define both her artistry and her parenting.
Still, music found its way in. Her mother’s beautiful singing voice stirred a passion that refused to stay quiet. Laurena began performing in church and joined groups like the United Evangelical Choir under William Dorsett and the Youth for Christ Ministry. Later, she would take her talent to the hotel circuit, singing with local bands and charming karaoke crowds.
Her big break came almost by accident, an impromptu performance at a fete where the scheduled singers failed to appear. Laurena stepped up to the mic and delivered a commanding rendition of Fay-Ann Lyons’ “Heavy T Bumper.” The crowd roared, the band was sold, and the performer within her was born.
Laurena The Professional Singer
Laurena soon joined Tonik Band, marking her official debut in Antigua’s soca scene. In 2010, she entered the LIME Party Monarch Competition, storming into both the Groovy and Up-Tempo finals with her songs “Baby” and “Ready Now.” Her natural charisma and powerful vocals resonated.
From there, the stage kept growing. She performed at the Moja Arts Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, and starred in her first music video for “Baby,” which climbed the Caribbean Countdown charts on Tempo Networks. The following year, she returned to the Party Monarch finals with “Sweet Bwoy” and “Terrible.”
In 2012, the band re-energized under a new name, Laurena Davis & TKO, and took their sound across borders. From Miami Carnival to London, Boston, Houston, Los Angeles, and islands across the Caribbean, Laurena Davis & TKO brought Antigua and Barbuda’s rhythm to the world.
The Woman Beyond the Stage
Behind the performer stands a mother, a mentor, and another profession. Laurena balances her artistic life with a thriving career in marketing, having worked with ABI Bank Ltd., ABI Insurance, and currently as Sales and Marketing Manager for WOTA, a Japanese water regeneration company.
In 2020, her passion for youth development led to the creation of the LD Foundation Inc., which focuses on youth causes, mental health, disability, healthcare, and education. She is a member of Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL).
Her contributions have not gone unnoticed. In 2023, Laurena received a Cultural Award from Splashdown Inc. in New York, along with recognitions from the New York State Assembly, NYC Mayor’s Office, and Nassau County Legislature. She also earned a nomination at the ABGMMA Awards in the Groovy Song of the Year category.
Passion and Purpose
As Laurena celebrates fifteen-plus years in music, Laurena remains deeply grounded. Her personal motto continues to guide her: “The passion that you have inside of you, if you’re blessed with it, it’s not for you to keep to yourself, but to share it with the world.”
For her, success is not measured by fame but by faith, growth, and giving back.
For more about Laurena and her music click here https://linktr.ee/Laurenadavismusic