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Somi Releases Third Album, If the Rains Come First

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Acclaimed Jazz/World/Neo-Soul Artist Will Perform in New York, DC and Boston To Support CD Release

When Somi was growing up, her mother told her that the rain,
ever unpredictable, could be as much a blessing as a challenge.
The blessings might come before the rain, or they could come
after - it's all in the timing, she said. That notion has stayed
with the charismatic singer and songwriter all her life and now
provides a metaphorical focus for her third album, If The Rains
Come First. The album, which will be released digitally on
October 13th and to retail on October 27 on ObliqSound, is a
stunning collection of self-penned story-based songs, a
meditation on opening ourselves up to life's blessings and
challenges much in the way that we accept the rain and all that
it brings.



Somi will support the CD's release with shows in New York City
(at Le Poisson Rouge on October 13,) Washington, DC (at the
Bohemian Caverns on October 18) and Boston (at Scullers on
November 18). Performances in Chicago and on the west coast are
also being planned.



If the Rains Come First builds upon elements that first
surfaced on Somi's two previous recordings: the electric soul-
jazz of 2003's Eternal Motive(SanaaHouse) and the acoustic,
culture-merging elegance of 2007's multilingual Red Soil in My
Eyes (World Village/Harmonia Mundi). But her further evolution
becomes immediately apparent as If the Rains Come First unfolds.
Singing in English and three East African languages, Somi's vocal
delivery is subtle yet the power she exerts is enormous.



Optimism, conviction and resilience are hallmarks of Somi's
new creations-these are songs of survival and awareness.
“Changing Inspiration" speaks of surveying the present,
remembering lessons of the past, and allowing both to inform and
inspire the possibilities of the future. “Jewel of His Soul" was
motivated by Somi's Parisian encounter with a homeless Senegalese
man who had been an intellectual in his homeland before falling
on harder times in his adopted country. “Kuzunguka," which means
“turning around" in Swahili, celebrates Somi's father's
successful fight against cancer. “Be Careful, Be Kind" expresses
Somi's emotional response to a young cousin's tragic death in a
car accident and her family's coming to peace with it. “Prayer To
the Saint of the Brokenhearted," reflects on the sense of
helplessness and hopelessness one often feels after heartache,
while serving as a reminder of the possibilities of faith and
renewal. And the title track offers assurance that we can always
go home for grounding, support and love.



At the core of each of Somi's highly personal and intimate
tales are shared emotions and experiences of love, life, loss and
learning. “Enganjyani," which means 'most beloved' in Rutooro,
the language spoken by Somi's Ugandan mother, refers to, as she
puts it, “the memory of whispered prayer and being haunted by a
past lover." The track features the legendary Hugh Masekela, a
longtime Somi fan who has become a mentor, guesting on trumpet.



With If the Rains Come First, Somi's songwriting has taken on
a new sophistication and depth. Surrounded by a cast of virtuosic
collaborators who understand precisely where she's going and how
to get there, Somi burrows deeply into her words and ultimately
something transcendent emerges. Her vision was shared by the
album's co-producers, ObliqSound co-founder Michele Locatelli
and Backdrop/ObliqSound labelmate Michael Olatuja, both of whom
also perform on the album. “Hopefully," Somi says, “people will
feel the personal nature of the stories being told and the
diverse musical influences poured into the melody and
instrumentation."



A true multicultural woman, Somi was born in Illinois to
immigrants from Rwanda and Uganda, then spent her early childhood
in Zambia. A self-described “classical music nerd" as a child,
she began studying the cello in primary school, an endeavor that
continued well into her college years. Encouraged by her mother's
love of song, Somi began singing herself, performing in church
and eventually landing roles in her university's musical theater
productions. The African cultural legacy, always crucial to her
sound, is as vital as ever in her current music, which Somi likes
to call New African Soul. But so too is the music she heard upon
relocating to New York, with American jazz singers like Nina
Simone and Sarah Vaughan as essential to her artistic development
as the legendary African female voices of Miriam Makeba, Cesaria
Evora and Sade.



The percussive thrust at the heart of African music is also a
fundamental component of If the Rains Come First, brought to bear
by an all-star African rhythm section of Ivorian percussionist
Madou Kon, Senegalese guitarist Herve Samb, and Nigerian bassist
Michael Olatuja. Somi recorded the album's 11 songs in Paris in
order to take advantage of the city's sizable African music
scene, then finished it in New York to avail herself of the
world's greatest jazz community. Among the exemplary musicians
who provide the coloring that fleshes out Somi's songs are
longtime collaborators Toru Dodo on Fender Rhodes and piano, and
guitarists Liberty Ellman, David Gilmore and Michele Locatelli.



From the album's opening track, “Hot Blue," Somi's delicate
yet pliant vocalizing is matched by the band's flairfor
establishing a potent groove against a sweet melody line.
“Rising," a song about faith and navigating life's challenges,
is all forward motion, a flawless juxtaposition of sizzling
rhythm, instantly memorable melody and a vocal style that
Jazz Times magazine describes as “the earthy gutsiness of Nina
Simone blended with the vocal beauty of Dianne Reeves," All Music
Guide calls “hauntingly reverent, intense and utterly
captivating," and Vogue simply calls “superb." Somi's masterful
technique also shines through on the album's closing song, “Maybe
Then," a gentle ballad touching on the not mutually exclusive
desire to believe in a dwindling love while treating another as
we would hope to be treated.



“Somi has an incredible subtlety and different colors in her
voice," notes Locatelli. “Her music has many different
personalities, and she is an amazing songwriter with strong
intuition. For this album, we wanted to bring out her intimate
side, as well as her gift for melodic storytelling."



As her career has taken off, Somi's talents have been called
upon for collaborations and live performances with such greats
as John Legend, Cassandra Wilson, Mos Def and Paul Simon. Most
recently, internationally renowned Israeli singer-songwriter
Idan Raichel featured her vocals on his latest album Within My
Walls (Cumbancha), on the track “Maisha," which Somi also
co-wrote. In addition to her own works, Somi also aims to bring
other important cultural gems to light, and has founded a
non-profit arts organization, New Africa Live, committed to
producing multidisciplinary arts events that celebrate
contemporary African artists.



As active as she is, Somi always takes the time necessary to
finesse each song she crafts. If the Rains Come First reveals
the careful attention she pays to getting it right. “I never
force a song out," she says. “Usually having quiet space for
introspection and meditation inspires me deeply. I've also
begun doing more co-writing with the musicians in my band for
stronger harmonic arrangements and the opportunity to share the
music with them in a more personal way."



“The songs on this album reflect where I am emotionally and
spiritually today," Somi continues. “At the end of the day, I
still know who I am and where home is before, during, and after
the rain-it's in the music."



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