Frank Ocean (born October 29, 1987) is an American singer/songwriter and member of the gleefully hedonistic hip-hop collective OFWGKTA. He was born Christopher "Lonny" Breaux in New Orleans, Louisiana, and now resides in Beverly Hills. He has helped pen tracks for Justin Bieber, John Legend, Brandy, and Beyonce Knowles over the last few years. In 2011, Ocean released his debut mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra, for free via his Tumblr.
Seeing Krystle Warren perform for the first time is a striking experience. First, there is the utter improbability of it all: she shuffles onstage with little more than a low-key hello, and proceeds to sing with an effortless power that completely belies her tiny frame. Hearing her fill a crowded club without using a microphone … that’s a Voice. And then there are her vocal stylings, which feature a melisma as rich as that of Wonder or Hathaway, but put all of that technique at the service of music that has never heard such a thing – folk and country...
Mavis Staples (born July 11, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American rhythm and blues singer. Most of her career has been as lead singer for The Staple Singers. She first recorded solo for the Stax subsidiary Volt in 1969. Subsequent efforts included a Curtis Mayfield-produced soundtrack on Curtom, a nod to disco for Warner Bros. Records in 1979, a stab at electro-pop with Holland-Dozier-Holland in 1984, and a collaboration with Prince in the late 1980s and early 90s (producing the two solo albums Time Waits for No One in 1989 and The Voice in 1993, and various other collaborations).
Developing their own sound and twist on modern hip-hop, psychedelic and soul, the music of EWH reaches forward while referencing key points of music's past. Thick drums and percussion layered with synth lines, hints of the Fender Rhodes and nylon stringed guitars have your neck snapping while your ears crane to its soulful vocals. While the EWH moniker is a relatively fresh name (formed in 2006) on the scene, this production trio is no stranger to the music game. Members Myele Manzanza, Taay Ninh, Mara TK are all familiar faces in the music scene in Wellington, New Zealand.
Born - West London, UK Influences - music of the 1960s and 70s including Sam Cooke, Motown (Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, et al), Sly & The Family Stone, Aretha, Otis Redding & the music of Stax, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, Desmond Dekker, Toots & The Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, etc. Accomplishments:
- written songs for/with Michael Jackson, Dusty Springfield, Eternal, Billy Mann, Color Me Badd, Shaun Escoffery
Now arrives Jess Harlen, a taste of soul, urban roots, lyrical stylings and poetic incision. This songstress hails from the rolling hills and coastlines of New Zealand and is of Ngati Porou and Nga Puhi decent. Moving to Australia with her family at a young age, Jess spent her school years growing up in Brisbane where she began singing and was taught to play the guitar by her family. Throughout her musical upbringing, influences include blues artists such as John Lee Hooker and Nina Simone, Motown greats such as Otis Redding and Gladys Knight...
Cee Lo Green (born Thomas Calloway on May 30, 1974) is an American hip-hop/funk/soul and R&B musician. He is a singer, rapper, songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of Gnarls Barkley, Goodie Mob, and Dungeon Family. He has also recorded two successful solo LPs, Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections, (2002) Cee-Lo Green... Is The Soul Machine, (2004) and is completing a follow-up album Lady Killer, due for release in fall 2010. Among Cee-Lo's solo hits are the singles "Closet Freak" (2002) and "I'll Be Around" (2003), produced by and featuring Timbaland.
Vika and Linda Bull are a sister vocal duo who came to prominence after being asked to sing backing vocals in Joe Camilleri's band The Black Sorrows.
Dru Hill is an American singing group, most popular during the late 1990s, whose repertoire includes R&B and soul music. Founded in Baltimore, Maryland and active from 1992 to 2005, Dru Hill recorded seven Top 40 hits, and is best known for the R&B #1 hits "In My Bed", "Never Make a Promise", and "How Deep is Your Love". Tamir "Nokio" Ruffin was the group's founder and leader; his bandmates included main lead singer Mark "Sisqó" Andrews, Larry "Jazz" Anthony, and James "Woody" Green.
Randa & The Soul Kingdom is a deep funk band form Perth, Australia. A 7" single is set for release on Freestyle Records, potentially followed by a full album on the same label. The band have supported Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (USA), The Bamboos (Melb) and Lionel Richie (USA). The band consists of
Randa Khamis - Vocal,
Ross Dwyer - Guitar,
Jon Fernandes - Bass,
Jason Ogg - Drums,
Jimmy Murphy - Trumpet,
Alistair McEvoy - Sax