Artiste Spotlight - Seinabo Sey

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Today's spotlight is on Seinabo Sey

A singer that hails from Sweden.

I think I have a fascination with singers from the continent of Europe.

Their vibe and tone of voice is just exceptional.

I came across her music on Spotify. 

I have an infatuation with the related artistes tab and my affair tends to give me gems.

Seinabo Sey being one of them.

Her discography is small at the current moment with Younger and Hard Time 

[the latter I absolutely adore]

then this Swedish Soul is one you should be tuned into.If you like the sounds of Disclosure, Banks or Maipei

Peep my fav Hard Time below.

Enjoy =)

Artiste Spotlight - Ella Eyre

Today's spotlight is on Ella Eyre

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So if you've been following for a bit, you know I have a thing for singers who have an out of this world, soulful voice. You would also know that a lot of them I shine the spotlight on tend to arise from the British soil. Seriously.. what is it with them?! Is it the talent combined with the accent? It can't be the water because I've been drinking (I've been drinking) it for couple years now and my voice ain't there. Anyways Ella.. *swoons*
Her hair is so lion-esque I can't stand it. Love the color.

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BUT HER VOICE!!!!!!!!! I can get lost in it for hours. She started out doing bits and bobs with Rudimental. Search for some of their collabs on YouTube. You won't be disappointed. My fav song from her is 'Love Me Like You' off of her EP "Deeper. I'm so happy that I have another singer to add to my listening library AND ..

I'm seeing her live tomorrow *squeals* :)))) So enough rambling from me and get into the goodness that is Ella Eyre.

Enjoy =)

Artiste Spotlight - Jane Macgizmo

Today's spotlight is on Jane Macgizmo

She's really a 'Jane of all trades'

Photographer, Model, Producer, Creative Director, Magazine Editor + how many more!

Real Jamaican with the bagga jobs :) and now she's blessing the world with another talent

singing.

Artwork by Janile Salmon

She just released her first single "Black Skin" on Soundcloud & I'm smitten.

Yes she's gorgeous and her voice matches the looks.

The track is in the realms of neo-soul with a Jamaican flavor (of course)

Produced by SOS Dynamiks, the beat is infectious.

I'm excited to see where Mizz Macgizmo goes with her music, but for now take a listen.

Enjoy =)

Artiste Spotlight - Mapei

Haven't done one of these in a proper minute

but today's spotlight is on Mapei

I came across her through my Flipboard app. I saw that pic and thought "who is this chick with the luscious curls??" 

Tap on the article and find out she's a singer who just released a single 'Don't Wait'

In doing more research to find more songs (and pics of her hair)

found out she was an "Artist to watch" in the LATimes in 2009

Somehow she dropped off the radar and now she's back 

This Rhode Island born, Swedish bred woman has an infectious voice and the track is one that I shall have on repeat. I really am hoping to see an EP or mix tape from her soon as I feel it will be something great.

Get into it below. Enjoy =)

Artiste Spotlight - ArinMaya

Today's spotlight is on ArinMaya

Chicago born songstress now based in NY who dabbles in soul, jazz, neo-soul

this lady has some pipes on her that she uses to pour out moving lyrics on songs that you wanna play over and over again.

I became aware of her after happening upon her latest project which is a collaboration with producer The Imagination. Together they are Her Imaginings and dropped an EP earlier this year.

I spent the whole day just replaying the EP. That's how much I was (still am) into it.

My fav track from the project is "Get Outta Here" 

Just seems like something that would be playing in the soundtrack to my life.

Give the EP a listen and dive into ArinMaya and all that she is.

http://herimaginings.bandcamp.com/releases

Artiste Spotlight - Charly and Margaux

Greetings Lovelies!

Today's spotlight is on the dynamic duo Charly & Margaux.

You may have come across their pics on various natural hair sites & you've probably heard their music before.

Think you haven't? They did the strings and backing vocals on Kendrick Lamar's "B*tch Don't Kill My Vibe".

From their site-

Charly and Margaux are Brooklyn based string composers contributing a fresh perspective to contemporary music. Both classically trained at Boston College and Berklee School of Music, they are building an impressive repertoire of worldly music. Charly and Margaux have developed a distinct sound that defies singular genres by pulling elements from baroque styles, East Asian folk, and personal bluesy flavor. The duo write contemporary pieces they perform together and with their 5pc band that includes DJ Ginyard (bass), Andy Berman (guitar) and Justin Tyson (percussion).

Besides doing various gigs for other artistes, these two Brooklyn ladies have been making the rounds on their own, selling out shows across the country.

I love them because they take classical music and infuse themselves into their creations.

Fierce naturalists with an insane style serving it up on the strings? Yes please.

They conjure up my childhood dream of playing the violin but I never knew what I would do with it.. They are the epitome of what one (or two) can do with this classical instrument.

Check them out below 

Enjoy =)

Artiste Spotlight - Faarow

Today's spotlight is on the duo Faarow.

Sisters Iman & Siham were born in Somalia & now reside in the T-Dot.

Langston Hughes Photography

They've been out and about for a bit posting covers on Youtube

& just being generally fierce.

Y'all see their hair? Bananas & Almonds.

Iman's golden tresses are now my official Summer do inspo.

Back to the Moozak.

Their single "Rule The World" initially has a M.I.A. vibe to it.

The song is upbeat & very dance ish.

I can see it pumping in a club or house party.

I rox with the visuals for the song too.

I'm interested to see what else they have in their pockets.

They're currently working on an EP so be on the look out for that.

Check out the vid for Rule The World below & Get Into Faarow.

Artiste Spotlight - Kwabs

Kwabena Adjepong a.k.a Kwabs.

A soulful screamer from... The UK but with roots in Ghana.

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I came across his rendition of James Blake's Wilhelm Scream through a Youtube playlist

& fell in love

His voice is haunting but so rich. 

It's like hollow wood with sweet molasses running through it.

He has a single out called Spirit Fade which y'all should take a listen to.

So get into Kwabs & his voice from beyond.

Enjoy =)

Artiste Spotlight - Bullet to Knowhere

Today's spotlight is on Bullet to Knowhere.

This dynamic duo hails from the Sunny South Florida.

TonyG & iSeemBlack are gentlemen who seek to provide a breath of fresh air in the hip-hop community.

TonyG & ISeemBlack
Photography by Allison Miché

                  They've been releasing material over the past couple of years in the form of mixtapes

and are currently in the works for their latest 'Am I Cool Yet'

I bring you visuals for one of the songs off the tape called "Gettin High"

Get into it.

Oh & I'm in the video :-)

Enjoy =)

Artiste Spotlight

Greetings Lovelies!

Decided to give a kick start to Hump Day by sharing about this group Allegra Dolores.

I was made privy to them courtesy of RoomieLoverFriends - a hot fire web series by Issa Rae & Black&SexyTV. 

The smooth theme song for the series, 'Chemistry' is done by Allegra Dolores and I was thrilled when Black&SexyTV put a music video for it on their channel.

These soulful sisters (who are really sisters) are ones you should look out for and put on your Chill Playlist.

Check out the visuals for Chemistry below and be sure to subscribe to Issa Rae and Black&SexyTv on YouTube. 

Artiste Spotlight

Greetings Lovelies!

Today's spotlight is on Anna Teresa De Keersmaeker.

The name may or may not be familiar to you... She is the choreographer that Queen Bey ripped off  gained inspiration from for her Countdown video.

De Keersmaker is well renowned in the contemporary dance field & has been in the arena for over 20 years. 

I'm researching De Keersmaeker for one of my Uni subjects & came across this video on YouTube.

It is a piece performed by Rosas, De Keersmaeker's company which she founded in 1983. 

It was choreographed by Anna Teresa De Keersmaeker for the Maison Martin Margiela+ H&M Designer Collaboration.

I was so excited when I came across this because I love when different arts collide to produce a piece. 

It shows that dance, music, art, fashion, theater, film and such are apart of the same family tree.

Check out the video below 

Enjoy =)

Artiste Spotlight

Protoje - Jamaican reggae artiste who brings positive music to the people has just released a music video for his song "Our Time Come" featuring hit producer Don Corleon  (who is also his cousin).

I first heard the song on his second mixtape This Is Protoje and fell in love. The beat  + the lyrics just had me and I would constantly have it on repeat. The fact that a music video was made for it completely made my day.

Initially the first couple seconds of it had me thinking "greeaaattt, they copied that whole "Look at me on tour bit mixed in with some personal stuff about me" kinda vibe" (think Nicki Minaj "Did It On Em" & Rihanna's "Cheers") but as the vid went on that thought flew out of my mind. It really embodies the song about how his time has come and it shows in a documentary type style of how he has gone about to promote his music & others' music as well.
In parts, you see him toting around a backpack handing out copies of his mixtape and best believe that's no show. I had the privilege of seeing Protoje live at his keyboardist's final year show at Edna Manley School of Arts AND I met him :) Homeboy surely had his backpack and proceeded to hand my friends & I copies of his first mixtape. Already had a copy though *shrug*

Protoje has carved a deep niche in the reggae world and he isn't stopping there. This video also showcases how far Jamaican artistes have come with their music videos. Protoje & his team have done it again with another great vid. 

This single will be on his upcoming sophomore album '8 Year Affair' and the video is an awesome insight into Protoje's hard work & come up + what to expect from the record.

If you haven't copped This Is Protoje, you can do so by visiting protoje.com 

Check out the Our Time Come vid below

Enjoy =)

Artiste Spotlight

Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley is back on the streets giving us new music with which to rock to. He came out with a single "Set Up Shop" late last year which was met with great review and now his latest track "Affairs of The Heart" is blazing up the airwaves. 

I fell in love when I first heard the song. I've always thought Rastamen produce some of the greatest love songs out there. I was originally going to post the song on here on Valentines Day but that day wasn't the best days.. good thing I waited because Mr. Marley dropped visuals for this track a day or so after. 

Check out the video for the song below & if you love the song so much, go look for it on iTunes.

Enjoy =)

Artiste Spotlight - Emeli Sande

Bursting onto the music scene in 2009, Emeli Sande is a lady with a memorable voice & not to mention, a serious education. Born in Scotland, this bi racial blonde beauty made sure to cop a degree in wait... Medicine and still had time to clutch a record deal.
Nice.

Her debut album "Our Version of Events" will be released in early 2012. I will most definitely be getting that.
Who isn't pumping her single "Heaven"? Get on it.
Her 2nd single "Daddy" is out and there is a music video for it. I fell in love with this track when I happened upon a vid of her on Youtube singing an acoustic version of it.
Peep the official music vid for Daddy & the acoustic bit.



Enjoy =)