Azucena was born in Brooklyn and attended Performing Arts High School, Manhattan, majoring in singing. After graduation, she worked on numerous sessions as a backup singer for pop groups, meanwhile pursuing a career as an actress and spending time on-stage both as a musical and theatrical talent. Her solo career began taking shape with albums like 2003's funky and versatile Maya Who?! and 2007's Junkyard Jewel. All the while, Azucena collaborated extensively with other artists, working with Stephen Marley on multiple recordings (including a duet on his Grammy-winning 2007 effort, Mind Control), rock band Brass Against, Living Colour's Vernon Reid, and jazz players like Marcus Miller and Jason Miles as well as artists from a wide array of geographical and stylistic backgrounds. She released her third solo album, Cry Love, in 2011 and continued establishing herself as an international touring artist, performing in countries like Turkey, Russia, India, Brazil, Croatia, and South Africa and representing America at the International Expo in Dubai 2022. Azucena worked with producer Timo Ellis on her six-song 2022 EP, I Am Enough. ~ TiVo Staff, Rovi