SOMI

March 13, 2008

The smooth, deep-voiced singer of Rwanda and Ugandan heritage moved often as a child, becoming a citizen of the world. Jazz, funk, soul, gospel and African music are all rolled into what she calls "holistic new African soul" and she's not afraid to shuffle line-ups to better explore different facets of her music. - An amazing combination of Billie Holiday and Fela Kuti.

PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER

April 10, 2008

Blending a psychedelic sensibility and pan-Meditarranean sensuality, Basya Schechter leads her band, Pharaoh's Daughter, through swirling Hasidic chants, Mizrachi and Sephardi folk-rock, and spiritual stylings filtered through percussion, flute, strings and electronica.

DINA FANAI

May 8, 2008

Ethereal textures, dark melodies, world rhythms, and spiritually driven lyrics. Dina Fanai explores and expresses the beauty, pain, magic and mystery of the human soul/pop/world. Dina has performed throughout the world as a vocalist, songwriter, original composer and as a singer with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra . She has written and produced for Universal Records USA and Columbia/Japan and has received grants and awards from The Songwriter's Hall of Fame and the National Endowment for the Arts as well as having led improvisation and chamber music workshops at the Juilliard School.

HAALE

June 12, 2008

Haale evokes both the spiritual and traditional culture of her parent's homeland of Iran, and the energy of psychedelic rock and roll from the sounds of New York City, where she was born. Her music and her message are formed by the powerful combination of these influences, invoking both a swaying trance and a rock sensibility she describes as "Psychedelic Sufi Trance Rock."