So Much Love
features multi-platinum and Grammy nominated musicians including
producer/songwriter Dapo Torimiro (Frank Ocean, John Legend, Justin
Bieber, Jordin Sparks, Chrisette Michele, Toni Braxton), British
songwriter Terry Shaddick (Olivia Newton-John, Diana Ross), guitarist
Chris Sholar (Beyonce', Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Ne-Yo,
D'Angelo), and jazz keyboardist Philippe Saisse (Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau,
Davie Bowie, David Sanborn)
(Los Angeles, California - January 11, 2014)
It takes a special artist to fuse elements of varying genres and eras
into a winning formula. Taking a bit of the old and a bit of the new to
create a fresh sound requires great skill and care. This is the crux
of Douyéism. On her forthcoming sophomore album So Much Love,
Nigerian-born, Los Angeles-based singer Douyé (pronounced Doe-Yay)
pays homage to the mellow blend of silk and soul made iconic by artists
such as Sade, Anita Baker, Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson, Chanté Moore,
Regina Belle, and Rachelle Ferrell. Featuring the musical prowess of
fellow Nigerian and multi-platinum producer Dapo Torimiro,
Grammy-nominated multi-platinum British songwriter Terry Shaddick,
guitarist/ producer Chris Sholar and Grammy-nominated jazz keyboardist/
producer Philippe Saisse, So Much Love
is a breathtaking tour de force that adeptly revisits the sound of
early 90s Urban Adult Contemporary radio with a unique spin. Laced with
Douyé’s smoldering vocals and seasoned with elements of jazz, R&B,
and a dash of spicy Afrobeat, it goes without saying that So Much Love is destined to be one of the more feted independent releases of 2014.
Hailing
from the Nigerian capital of Lagos, Douyé was raised in a household
where the sounds of legends like Billie Holliday, Sarah Vaughn, Ray
Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Bob Marley, and Dinah Washington were
omnipresent. And with that, Douyé had found her calling. Later she
attended the esteemed Musicians Institute in Hollywood as a vocal
major. While at school, she was introduced to songwriter Terry
Shaddick. Responsible for penning Olivia Newton-John’s decade defining
multi-platinum hit “Physical,” Shaddick immediately recognized Douyé’s
unique innate talent and began collaborating with her on a series of
songs that would eventually culminate in her debut album Journey in 2007.
Three years after her debut album Journey, Douyé is fully prepared to share the next leg of her wondrous journey with the world on So Much Love.
Hailed Nigeria's Sade, the new album is an exemplary testament to
Douyé’s growth as an artist, songwriter, and human being. Over the
course of 13 tracks, So Much Love
takes listeners on a ride through the full range of life’s joys and
beautiful struggles. The breezy tune “Life Is Good,” featuring
acclaimed saxophonist Eric Marienthal, is a whimsical number embedded
with a reminder to enjoy the little things in life and live in the
moment. Since its release, the song has gained attention in media
outlets in both the United States and Europe. “Life Is Good,” produced
by Torimiro, climbed to #9 on the UK soul chart and has remained in
steady rotation on play lists at radio stations in Europe and
stateside. Infusing Douyé’s signature sound with a more contemporary
R&B vibe, the Sholar produced “Til Morning Comes” finds Douyé
caught up in rapture with that special someone.
Douyé
unveils her more pensive side on the flamenco inspired “Wake Up,” a
song produced by Saisse that speaks to the issue of mental illness.
Douyé rebounds and lightens the mood with her tribute to the days of
her youth, “Golden Days.” Produced by Torimiro and featuring smooth jazz
trumpeter Rick Braun, “Golden Days” is a reflective song full of
lyrics that reminisce on simpler times when being a free-spirited child
was her only care. One of the album’s crowning moments comes in the
form of her jubilant tribute to the late Nigerian Afrobeat legend and
international icon Fela Kuti, “So Much Love.” After reflecting on
bearing witness to Fela’s rousing live performances at his legendary
venue The Shrine throughout her childhood, Douyé decided that a tribute
to Fela was in order to lead off the new project.
Douye'
says, “In Africa, we have many sayings, there is one that translates
to when you’re cooking a good soup, you don’t rush to drop everything
in. Because it’s a process. You take your time so that the love will
reflect in the soup. You can’t rush a good thing. That’s the way I feel
about the new album."
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