REVIEW: YolanDa Brown @ The Jazz Café (15th February)

With a venue renowned for its stellar acts and having heard good things about YolanDa Brown, my expectations were high. Judging from the queue already formed by door opening time (7pm prompt), it was clear I was not the only one who had been touched by her reputation.

Hosting the evening was up and coming comedian Eddie Kadi, whose bold and camp comedy style kept the eclectic crowd entertained. As he reeled off her achievements of sell-out shows, I could hear murmurs of “I was there”, amongst the audience. It was official, I was amongst fans.

As the lady herself took centre stage, wearing her trademark knee length frock and carrying her beautifully painted tenor sax; she appeared much smaller in person and I wondered how she would survive a two hour set in killer heels. I needn’t have worried, for YolanDa showed me how it was done.

“In the mood for love” was the theme for YolanDa Brown’s Valentine’s weekend concert and the first half of the act reflected this; kicking off with the title song. Next up was a slightly up-tempo rendition of Misty and Just Say, an original composition, moody and mellow enough to bang home the message of love. Throughout her set YolanDa invited the band to jam with her and to perform solo. At one point she introduced the musicians not just by name but by nationality, each playing a traditional sound from their native country: Brazil, Jamaica, London, Nigeria and Sierra Leone – I was being spoiled by a cornucopia of world music.

For the second half Ms. Brown re-joined us having swapped her modest bronze dress in favour of a brightly patterned, African-inspired number. The camaraderie between stage and audience continued, as she burst into an original, Festact Town, named after a town in Nigeria. As she bopped and jigged on stage, sax in hand, we couldn’t help but join in. Though highlights of the night included a performance of Story (another original composition) and a sax duet of Prince’s The Beautiful Ones, with vocalist Aaron, it was simply watching YolanDa do her thing that stood out most of all. Switching from an original to a popular song (Bob Marley’s Is This Love went down extremely well), from tenor sax to soprano and back; her passion and love for performing brought magic to the show.

© Rachelle Hull, 2009
Published at www.catchavibe.co.uk
Photo Credit: Richard Kaby www.flickr.com/photos/kabyric/sets

Interview: MORGAN HERITAGE

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© Rachelle Hull
Published at www.flavourmag.co.uk

Interview: SOUL:ID

Soul On A Mission

In an industry where formula rules, it is rare to find a band in the spotlight where friendship and music are at the core. Though boasting four identities, Soul:ID are not the machinations of a clever PR; so do not expect cute names and kitted out personalities to match. With their combined experience of studio recording, production and supporting other artists in live performances Tchaї (lead vocalist), Dad’D ( vocalist/producer) , V ( vocalist/producer) and Urban Deep (lead producer) decided to build their own creative collective, back in 2004. ‘Everybody knew each other in different ways and that’s how we slowly started to form the sound of Soul:ID,’ says Tchaї.



The sound of Soul:ID is referred to as Afropean Soul, for their music is ‘made by Africans that grew up in Europe and vice versa.’ The result? A combination of jigsaw sounds that piece together perfectly. Based in Belgium, with Tchaї, Dad’D and V hailing from Africa: Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo respectively, Soul:ID’s day to day experiences epitomise this newfound genre. Being a band with members from two continents that share an afflicted history, whilst three quarters of the band hail from neighbouring countries, Soul:ID had some decisions to make. ‘The first question we asked ourselves was: are we going to be political or not? But with three of us from three close countries with difficulties, coming together and making music – it was inevitable,’ Tchaї explains.



Having performed in Africa already, the band is aiming to do more. ‘We would like to start initiatives for peace in Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It’s an incredible amount of work, but not impossible,’ Urban Deep reveals. Despite their political aspirations, Tchaї is quick to point out their ability to maintain a balance between this and the value of entertainment, ‘We definitely want people to be aware of things, but at the same time you need to laugh and you need to smile.’



With the European release of their debut album this month, the quartet are optimistic about the future, ‘The first album is an adventure of four people seeing how their music comes together. Now we know the ingredients, the second album will be completely different,’ Tchaї tells me.



Their London gig is scheduled for October 22 at Soho Revue Bar.

© Rachelle Hull, 2008
Published at: www.catchavibe.co.uk

Interview: LAURA IZIBOR

Laura Izibor enters the studio, dressed head to toe in black: jacket, jeans and boots. Her curly hair is full of life and makeup flawless; her smoky eye shadow completing the look. Gone is the fresh-faced, girl-next-door I had come to know from her MySpace pictures. In her place? A soul chick that rocks. As we talk her Irish lilt is occasionally inflected with a soft American twang (a consequence of spending ample time in the US with her record label Atlantic) and the laidback Irish charm is apparent. Featured in our Rising Star Spotlight late last year Laura Izibor needs no further introductions.

Despite the delay of her debut album, Let The Truth Be Told, Laura has been busy. Though you may not be completely familiar with the name yet, the music will certainly sound familiar. Her track From My Heart To Your's appeared in an episode of the medical drama Grey's Anatomy and Carousel was specifically written as the theme song for the film Nanny Diaries (2007). Whilst her gospel-influenced Mmm featured in not one, but two films: Why Did I Get Married? (2007) and Step Up 2: The Streets (2008), respectively.

Right about now the Irish soulstress is feeling 'Really damn good!' and with good reason. Not only has the film world been paying attention, but with the recent votes from Rolling Stone and Vibe Magazine as Artist to Watch 2008 it seems the rest of the world is too, 'It's taken a really long time to get this record finished; so to get this kind of love, it's crazy,' she tells me.

Considering the buzz around her music, the 21-year old's feet remain firmly on the ground and she reveals the perfect remedy for coping with the expectation prior to her debut release, 'I don't have any expectations for myself; that's the way I try and live my life. I'm just really enjoying singing and playing, just doing what I do.'

Unlike other young female acts who have come and gone before, Ms. Izibor will never be branded a 'studio chick' but a seasoned performer instead. What you get on the record is what you get in person; so when the lady performs live, she performs. Having opened for Angie Stone, the late James Brown, Al Green, The Roots and Jamie Cullum is there need for any more proof? 'Performing live is what you work for - it's the adrenaline, it's the buzz', though this does not mean her love of studio time is any less deep, 'at the same time the creative process is a lot more personal - it's an inward achievement. I couldn't live without the both of them.'

In tune with Izibor's laidback personality is her method of writing; imagining her with a pen and a pad, would be inaccurate, 'I don't write my lyrics down, I just usually record myself on a Dictaphone or whatever I have and just play, mumble, sing and vibe. When I listen back I'm like, 'Oh I see what I was trying to do there' and put a little bit of structure in, a little bit of edge and the song usually just writes itself. Sounds cliche, but it is just a natural process and that's the way I try to keep it.' When asked if there is a special someone to inspire her, she laughs and says, 'Not at the moment. I'm so busy I don't even get time to see my family.'

Now a little older, wiser and more experienced Laura is pleased that she took the time to work on her talent before putting herself out there, 'It took me a very long time and there was a lot of frustration, but it taught me an awful lot. I would still say to someone wanting to get into the industry to work on your skill, get a good demo and send it to record labels and song writing competitions. It's important to take every opportunity that you see; you really have to have no insecurities and just believe in yourself.’

With a 2009 release of Let The Truth Be Told, her debut album of home-cooked soul with an edge, Ms. Izibor is more than prepared. 'I'm most excited about walking into a store and seeing the record on the shelf and just being able to buy it myself. Let The Truth Be Told is an album that I'm proud of and that I believe in. I've been very lucky to write my album 100% so there's nobody else's words there or visions. The album is completely my truths and my experiences.'

© Rachelle Hull, 2008

Published at www.originsmag.com

Interview: SHAGGY

Mentioning the name Shaggy is like playing word association, as Boombastic and Mr Lover Lover immediately spring to mind. Best known for his massive hit singles It Wasn't Me (the biggest selling single in 2001 in the UK) and Angel, the chart topping reggae superstar has been filling our ears with his trademark sub-baritone vocals and patois infused lyrics for well over ten years.

But where did it all begin? In Jamaica. 'I remember the first time I saw Yellowman live and that was it for me – I caught the dancehall bug.' It was when he moved to America that things really took off, 'When I came to the states there was a huge dancehall scene in New York. I started chatting on sound systems, free styling and after a while I just started making records.' Yet it wasn't until the release of Oh Carolina, a dancehall remake of the 1960s classic, which made the music industry take note. The track was passed on to Greensleeves Records where it garnered major attention in the UK in 1993, causing Virgin to come a-knocking at Shaggy's door.

Despite his growing popularity Shaggy was not without his critics, 'At the time Oh Carolina came out, I was being dubbed a one hit wonder. Almost all the headlines were saying I only had a hit because it was a cover. That aggravated me and I just had to prove them wrong; I had to get a bigger hit and it had to be one that I wrote – so I wrote Boombastic.' The single was an instant hit in 1995, reaching the No. 1 spot in over four countries; including both the UK and the US. His distinctive voice, humorous metaphors ('Well you a the bun and me a the cheese/ And if me a the rice well baby love you a the peas') and good looks cemented his (largely female) fan base.

Capitalising on this, Levi's jeans company used the track for its tongue- in-cheek advertising campaign that same year. Although Shaggy would go on to release bigger hits, it was Boombastic that established his signature sound. Fast forward thirteen years (and twenty million albums sold worldwide) later; the road from then till now has not existed without its potholes. 'I've not had the easiest of careers; I've probably been on about five record labels. When I did Oh Carolina Greensleeves wanted me to re-do that type of sound, I refused and then Apache Indian came out with a song called Boom Shack-a-Lack; which had the same feeling. I keep getting dropped because they want you to repeat what you've already done.' For Shaggy re-invention is key; and though it may not be done with dramatic wardrobe changes and excessive press coverage in the style of Madonna, it can be heard throughout his music.

Over the years Shaggy has collaborated with a barrage of successful artists, from Maxi Priest, to Janet Jackson, to Akon and with lesser known artists, like Rik Rok and Ravyon. His collaboration with renowned reggae artist Sizzla and newcomer Collie Buddz, on his 2007 album Intoxication, may come as a surprise to some. Entitled Mad, Mad World and waxing lyrical on the 'Politics, polytricks, equal econometricks' the record is a far cry from the usual party anthems like Hey Sexy Lady and What's Love. According to Shaggy this is not something new, 'I've always done these songs. If you listen to all the albums, I've got Why Me Lord, Keeping it Real, Hope, Gone with Angels.' His defence on why these particular tracks have never been released? 'Major labels would never put one of those songs out. Boombastic worked so that's why you have so many girl tunes; that's the formula they know and so they gear you towards that.' But aware of how the market works he explains, 'In defence of the record companies the kids at the clubs don't want to hear about social issues and radio won't play those songs. It's just like Kanye saying I won't get played because I talk about Jesus. It's sad, but it is what it is.' Though his albums were selling fast, like hot patties, Shaggy was losing his core fans– the lovers of dancehall. Something had to be done. Founding his own label Big Yard Music (a joint venture with long time manager Robert Livingston and producer Sting International), Shaggy had complete creative control. 'I needed to get the dancehall fans back, because they weren't feeling Shaggy. Dancehall fans that I had during Big Up and Boombastic have all grown up; these young kids only know Shaggy as the pop guy that's in Angel. I had to get the street back and Wild Tonight and Church Heathen were the songs to do it.' With its heavy baseline, dubbed the Heathen Riddim, and Patois lyrics in true Shaggy fashion ('Sister Gwen claim she a Christian/But a last night them catch her in a Stone Love session/She a do di dutty dance to the Matterhorn song') Church Heathen was sure to win back his lost fans. To ensure the track reflected what he was trying to do, Shaggy came up with the concept of the video (of which there are two versions) featuring Ninja Man and paid for them out of his own pocket. It worked. Church Heathen was a hit on the dancehall scene and across the globe.

Now in 2008, Shaggy is releasing his first official greatest hits collection; The Best of Shaggy: The Boombastic Collection. 'This is probably one of the few things I've done on a major label where I'm in full control; I picked the songs and the artwork for the covers.' Whether you've been a Shaggy fan from back in the day or you are a new recruit to the millions of fans around the world, with a track listing of eighteen songs there is definitely something for everyone.

Drawing on his own experiences in the industry, his advice for others? 'Your drive is more than anything else. You can't be successful in anything unless you're passionate about it; if you're going in there for money or fame it makes no sense. I would still be a reggae act if I started out now; I think it's almost like being a part of royalty. It is certainly not the easiest road; but I'm about being an artist, not really a celebrity. That's the secret to success – if there's a secret.'

© Rachelle Hull

Published at www.originsmag.com

Interview: GINUWINE

He was the sex symbol of the '90s. Creating a whole new meaning for the word pony with his debut single of the same name, Ginuwine graced our screens and ears with his silky smooth vocals, pretty boy looks and candid sex appeal.

Twelve years on and a couple of double-platinum albums later, the former bachelor is older, as handsome as ever and ready for 2008.

Considering his previous success one would think he had a complex about recreating work of the same calibre. But there are no pressure bars set-it's not his style, 'You can't go back and say I want to top Pony because Pony might not have worked now. You've got to deal with today's time and work around that and just try to come up with something for that time.'

It was in 1996, to be exact, when Ginuwine and the prolific producer Timbaland gave us Ginuwine...The Bachelor, his debut album. Back then, both the artist and the producer had been a part of former Jodeci member DeVante Swing's Swing Mob group (which also included Missy Elliott and Tweet at the time) before the group folded. The dynamite combination of Ginuwine's vocal talent and Timbaland's production skills is what made the album explode into double-platinum status.

Following on from his instant success, Ginuwine has gone on to release four more albums. His sophomore album 100% Ginuwine (also reaching double-platinum) in 1999; The Life (a platinum selling album) in 2001; Senior in 2003 and Back II Da Basics in 2005. Spawning numerous hit tracks from each release.

Judging from gaps in release dates it is clear he is not an artist who feels compelled to saturate the airwaves with his sound. His recipe for r n b: a dash of gentleman and a pinch of thug is what keeps his fan base solid. His declaration of, 'I just feel like I've got to make good music' and releasing a catalogue of substantial material when necessary, is what maintains the (level of) respect he receives within the music industry.

Speaking about the industry Ginuwine points out the major difference between the time he came out and now, 'You can do it all over the internet. It's all about promoting and marketing on the net.' Though he is quick to add, 'Make sure you've got a hit though because that's the key to opening any door.'

For 2008 Ginuwine is working on his sixth album, A New Beginning. His disillusionment with the current state of r n b, 'When we were making music it had more substance to it. You can't really knock what's going on right now, but it's not something I care too much for' and the decision, in 2007, to join forces with r n b hit-makers Tyrese and Tank to form the r n b supergroup TGT, one wonders if the title refers more to the genre than the artist.

Speaking of the new material he says, 'More sexy, smooth and laidback. I'm a little older now so I don't do the jumping around – been there, done that. I'm moving on to the Marvin Gaye feel.' For an artist who is known as much for his energetic moves as he is for his music, it is hard to picture a dance-free Ginuwine. Even he admits, 'When you come to a show though I'm a slave to the rhythm, so I'm gonna move.'

Proof that Ginuwine still has love for the occasional club banger is his current collaboration with UK producer Shayal, on the track Baby. The collaboration is the think tank of British-Asian producer Khiza for his 'culture meets culture' project, on the independent label Utopia Records. At a first glance the pairing of a US r n b star and an up and coming UK producer seems unusual. But with Shayal making quality r n b music and receiving support from other US artists, such as Rickey Rush (who has shared the stage with R. Kelly, KC & JoJo and Ginuwine himself), the duo make perfect sense.

Although some things may have changed for the man who brought us hits like In Those Jeans and Differences, one thing remains constant – his motto for success. 'You've got to work to achieve whatever you want in life. You can't lay back and hope it will come to you; you've got to get up and work.'

© Rachelle Hull
Published at www.originsmag.com