“Somi is an exciting addition to the ObliqSound family of artists, all of whom are joined by an incomparable musicianship, no matter their musical style or genre," said Michele Locatelli, president and co-founder of ObliqSound. “Her album will be a highlight in a strong year for our vocal series."
“I love how open-minded ObliqSound is towards music in particular and cultural identities as a whole," said Somi. “I'm really looking forward to sharing my creative process and vision as we create the new album. I'm honored to have the opportunity."
Born in Illinois to East African parents and having also lived in Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania, Somi is a true daughter of the New African world. Her first New York performance, as a featured vocalist in the African Globe Theater production of Drums Under the African Sky, led to collaborations with Amel Larrieux, Roy Hargrove, Lionel Loueke, Lonnie Plaxico, and Mos Def. She has also performed alongside Cassandra Wilson, Paul Simon, and John Legend. Emerging as a popular headliner, Somi has performed at New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center, Joe's Pub, B.B. King's, and The Blue Note, Chicago's famed South Shore Jazz Fest, and the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., among many other international venues.
Somi can currently be heard on the new Idan Raichel Project album Within My Walls, as featured vocalist on the track “Maisha," a song which she co-wrote, and also on Joe Claussell's new 12" Vinyl Remix of Somi's Fela Kuti-inspired “African Lady," the last single from Red Soil In My Eyes.
In addition to her songwriting and soaring vocals, which have been compared favorably to Nina Simone, Miriam Makeba and Dianne Reeves, Somi's talents also extend to theater. In April 2008, her multi-media theater piece, co-written with fellow vocalist and performer Chanda Rule, “Listening to Roots and Voicing Branches" debuted and sold out at The Apollo Theater. Her non-profit arts organization, New Africa Live, committed to producing multidisciplinary arts events that celebrate contemporary African cultural production, was recently chosen for sponsorship by the New York Foundation of the Arts.
About ObliqSound:
ObliqSound is an independent record label that provides a home for artists around the globe interested in creating music that crosses the boundaries of traditional music labeling. Dedicated to both an instrumental and vocal series, ObliqSound endeavors to create a body of timeless, genre-defying music. Recent releases include Ablaye Cissoko & Volker Goetze's vocal/kora and trumpet duo album Sira, Lionel Loueke, Ferenc Nemeth, and Massimo Biolcati's sophomore trio album Gilfema + 2 (featuring guests Anat Cohen and John Ellis), Grand Pianoramax's 12" vinyl single of “The Hook“ from the album The Biggest Piano In Town (featuring remixes by DJ Spinna and Rogall meets m.path.iq.) The label recently introduced several of its artists at label showcases at the 2008 Montreux Jazz Festival and in 2009 at MIDEM. For more about ObliqSound, please see obliqsound.com.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
