Bonnie Tagate's Open Bar/ NEON MAGAZINE

"Chicks that Rock" at Packees Pub May 2003

NIYA are your basic schoolboy fantasy. Not only are Leigh Ann and Jenna Emens sisters, they’re also TWINS! And not only do they look hot, they rock that way, too. But, this ain’t no shtick band.

Leigh Ann is front and center on vocals and guitar, while Jenna switches off between bass and guitar with lead axe man Rich Trotman. Anchoring the backbeat is Justin Neighbour on drums.

They’ve been gigging extensively on the New York and East Coast circuit for the past four years or so opening for the likes of L.A. Guns, Dee Snider, the Misfits and Kings X. Some pretty heavy company.

But Niya are pretty heavy in their own right, meshing their melody driven songs with the rolling thunder of metal. I’ve seen them before - about six months ago - but this night it was obvious their time on the road has paid off with a more intense stage presence and an added dynamic strength.

They’ve got a demo out with “Just Like Me” and “My Realty”. Neither recorded song approaches the energy of their on stage performance. A full length CD is due out this summer.

- NEON - NYC's Hard Rock Magazine