IVORY DOME GIVES YOU MIGUEL

"There is value in patience." Miguel Jontel is the embodiment of such saying. At just 23, this singer is creeping out of the song writer shadows and into the superstar limelight. From his stint as a contestant on the BET reality show, Fatty Koo(Who?), to becoming a sought after song writer for the likes of Usher, Mary J. Blige and Musique, Miguel, as he is simply called, is a welcomed addition to the tepid serving of R and B stars (Trey Something & Co.).

Miguel's mature sound and lyrics hint at a certain discretion that creates an intimate and unconventional world. Released in 09, Miguel's mix-tape, Mischief, highlights his song writing capabilities, creative energy (which is seriously missing in the factory that is the record industry) and his unimposing style. He has been under Jive and finally has the green light to shine. Miguel's first single, All I want is You ft. Jcole ( I could do without JCole) produced by Salaam Remi (Amy Winehouse, Nas), is a refined take on love lost. I feel his album would make for a great treat.

IVORY DOME GIVES YOU ANDREYA TRIANA

Andreya Triana is that hidden gem that everyone needs to know about. I first heard of this British songstress on Flying Lotus's Los Angeles and to say her breathy serenade was not memorable would be a fat lie. Triana's upcoming debut album, Lost Where I Belong is something to look forward to. She has released two tracks; the first being the title song Lost Where I Belong (sadly accompanied with the acoustic guitar melodrama, yes I am really over that darn guitar) and A Town Called Obsolete. Andreya's sound is soft, tittering the lines of delicacy and strenght. I can only hope she is not a victim of "Hook Singer" (the instance where artists sound amazing on other artist's tracks compared to their own efforts, Dwele & Co). So far, a grand highlight is on Bonobo's Black Sands. Songs like Stay The Same, Eyes Down and The Keeper are just right, with a sound reaching into an ethereal sphere. If she can maintain this presence then all the world is hers.

IVORY DOME GIVES YOU DISTANT RELATIVES

This is a project that I've been looking forward to since I heard the "Road To Zion" track on the Damian Marley "Welcome To Jamrock" album. Nas and Damian shared a great chemistry on that track and Distant Relatives, I suspect will be nothing short of that. After listening to the two offerings they have on their myspace page, I think they have a hit on their hands. I just hope they have the right marketing team on board, because this could be epic. The collaboration is that raw, gritty, and uncalculating scenario that two powerhouses just stumbled upon. This summer just might be epic thanks to Distant Relatives.



As We Enter - Distant Relatives

Distant Relatives | MySpace Music Videos

IVORY DOME GIVES YOU CANJELAE

Canjelae was just a link on a random site and my goodness, I was BLOWN away by her voice. Took me to the old Toni Braxton, Total and Changing Faces era. This is my ideal Jack Davey, compelling seduction that ditches sexuality and takes a route of compassion and innocence. Canjalae, who is from Bermuda, is just splendid to listen to, her rendition of Rihanna's Umbrella is just magical. Dig her for her heartfelt deliverance and let's see where her career takes her.

IVORY DOME GIVES YOU THA BOOGIE

Another myspace find, Tha Boogie (Lejin, K.orus & NuSchool) is slowly creeping up as a favourite. A younger and less sexier version of J*Davey me thinks. The California crew can site Raphael Saadiq as mentor , taking them on tour with him recently. Their Love, Tha Boogie (Steal This Sh*t) EP offers feet movers like Running, Running and Hey Love induces some snappy, side to side jerking. The vocals could be better but the sound is rather impressive. Dig them for great beats (electro, neo soul, doo wop, dance with a tinge of eighties).

IVORY DOME GIVES YOU KEZIAH JONES

Keziah Jones aka Olufemi Sanyaolu is that cool cat that everyone wants to be friends with( well I do!). He sings, he plays the piano and the guitar, his beats keeps you moving and his lyrics are all sorts of soulful . He's been a favourite for a while especially during my acoustic guitar loving days. The Nigerian clearly draws from afrobeat past (See Fela) and delivers an infectious sound. Check out this great talent on Blufunk Is a Fact, African Space Craft, Liquid Sunshine, Black Orpheus and his latest, Nigerian Wood.

V.V. Brown Interview With SoulCulture T.V.

This past spring Ivory Dome introduced you to VV Brown and so I figured I should pass along this little interview she did with SoulCulture TV.

In this interview, SoulCulture.co.uk talks to Universal-signed British chanteuse VV Brown as she speaks about the importance of Artist Development, turning down a Bad Boy record deal from P Diddy, recording in grimy studios of East London and gives an exclusive acapella performance of her new single, "Shark In The Water."

Thanks for stopping by,

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IVORY DOME GIVES YOU NNEKA

NNEKA has been on my musical rotation for over four years, another myspace discovery, she's reached greater heights, especially with the release of her compilation album To And Fro. The 3 CD set has new tracks and songs from her first album, Victim Of Truth and her sophomore album, No Longer At Ease.  She's a native Nigerian, honing her craft in Denmark and has developed a sound that touches on; self realization, consciousness and change, drawing inspiration from social and political conditions in Nigeria. Her lyrics can venture into preachy but she pulls it off with the help of dub/Hip-Hop/afro sounds. Digg tracks like Heartbeat and The Uncomfortable Truth.

Brittany Bosco - Spectrum 2​.​0

Earlier in the year Ivory Dome introduced you to Ms. Bosco and her original Spectrum Ep. She's now re-releasing it with additional tracks.



Click Here To Download

Brittany Bosco - Blues For Blue/Black & White (New video)

Here is the newest music video debut from Brittany Bosco released this week, in preparation for the upcoming re-release of her album Spectrum. A beautiful video, for a beautiful artist. Kudos to the BangPop! team for creating the video.

DOWNLOAD: Brittany Bosco - Spectrum

IVORY DOME GIVES YOU VV BROWN

Ah! the Brits have done it again. Cue in VV Brown, a quasi Amy Winehouse, with a tinge of Duffy. Her voice is seemingly mature but her style lingers on the young and carefree. VV is a singer/songwriter from London Town, she sites Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald as inspiration for her 50's groove. Her upcoming debut Travelling Like The Light, will be out this June. Look for doowop influenced sounds on I'm Crying Blood and Leave. I'm thrilled to see how her career goes, the marketing is definitely on point.









V V Brown - Shark In The Water


V V Brown talks about her influences

Ivory Dome Gives You Asa

I still am on the " I'm over acoustic guitar, 'singing a song and being shy' " but, and it is a grand but, an exception is made when it comes to Asa(AH-SHA). The french born, Nigerian caught my attention a while ago, but appreciation for her sound was a slow build because of the acoustic guitar overload I was experiencing. The album is a gem from the"dark continent" , as the west likes to think of it, but that is a different story. Asa's self titled debut is a great effort, 360°, Jailer (Free Amazon Download) and Fire On The Mountain are the stand out English tracks for me, while Awe and Bibanke are my favourite Yoruba tracks, Yoruba being Asa's native language. Dig her tracks for societal insights and love trials

Ivory Dome Gives You AYO

Ayo (Ayo Ogunmakin), Nigerian-German singer/songwriter, has been on my radar for a bit and this past weekend, I see she's on Banana Republic ads for their City Stories campaign. I found myself listening to her album and finding a new appreciation for her simplistic approach. I'm over acoustic guitar, "singing a song and being shy" music but this works. She has a new site up and has put up a video for a new single from Gravity At Last, her follow up project to 2008's Joyful. Watch Lonely here.

Ivory Dome Gives You Giovanca

Giovanca, model turned singer from Amsterdam is perfect for rainy days . Giovanca's voice has a soft and warm quality that puts a smile on your face. Her latest EP Subway Silence is just that , a lovely smile from her to you. Tracks like Joyride deals with feelings about her uncertainty in a relationship. Her qualm is delivered with an ease that the dude on the receiving end would probably drop his angst at the door. On My Way strikes a note on independence without the aggressive undertone one would expect. For her simplistic style, Dig this please.

Ivory Dome Gives You Peter Hadar

I was introduced to the sound of Peter Hadar a while back, by host of radio show Luv4art on wbmbradio.com. I finally got a hold of She's 4 Months and it has been on heavy rotation. The EP is a testament to groovy jazz heavy beats and sensually calm vocals. Hadar's almost whisper like vocal delivery gives songs like Sweatin a sensual edge. His voice is soothing enough to suggest those naughty thoughts and desires, Workin is a testament to that. Dig this please

Ivory Dome Gives You Lorette Fleur

This multi-talented Parisian based songstress, producer, mixer e.t.c can get my money and then some. I recently discovered Lorette Fleur on one of my sleepless, myspace music search nights and I was glad to find a gem. Her voice is super smooth and compelling. She's collaborated with Georgia Anne Muldrow, so what do you expect. Her lyrics are a glimpse into humanity and amor. Get the full effect on tracks like Look Around , it starts out as a heavy jam session and then intros a soothing call to awareness. I believe French accent with an African tinge makes singing in English much more seductive. Vraiment !

Ivory Dome gives you Brittany Bosco

'09 is going to be Brittany Bosco's year. I'm cheering on the sidelines for this vocal genius. I got the chance to see her live at the now closed Knitting Factory near Canal Street in New York and I heard spine tingling liquid gold vocals. She is a force to be reckoned with, so get on board with her Jazzy, Hip-Hopy, sultry and soulful sound, which is courtesy of a tight production team, I mean super tight (Alex Goose, Branden Collins...). Highlights are the Intro Welcome to Funkyolon, with it's funky groove. 8-Trak takes it to another level definitely a body moving track with heavy drums, her "love is like the 8-Trak you can't find" she says. Blues for Blue is a Jazz melange that takes my breathe away. It pulls you into a different world, open bruise... blues blood, damn it's all Brittany Bosco Magic.

Spectrum EP Download