Album Notes

Music plants seeds in fertile minds. The seeds of the Finotee experience consist of lyrics that weave stories coupled with sounds that seduce you to journey inward. Blending rock, reggae, funk and soul music, Finotee is a band that is difficult to pigeonhole. Through the use of live instrumentation, Finotee's songs and lyrical content communicate social consciousness, personal truth and insight into the human experience.

Finotee is an adaptation of the Ethiopian Amharic word "fenote," which means "the way." The use of this name reflects Finotee's respect for every individual's unique path through life while encompassing the universal way of love.

The members of Finotee consist of guitarist Peter Hucey, drummer Alvaro Rodriquez, bassist Ian Shaw, keyboardist Eric Wilson, percussionist Joe Barnes and vocalists Justice and Swan. Peter, Alvaro and Justice, the founding members of Finotee, met in Miami in 1996 and began writing music together. Determined to immerse themselves in a more musically diverse environment, they moved to New York in the fall of 1999. Soon after their arrival, Justice called upon her friend and former schoolmate, Swan, to join the group as a vocalist. Over the following year, Ian Shaw, Eric Wilson and Joe Barnes completed the band with their experience and passion for the music.

The New York-based group has graced the stages of SOB's, Wetlands, Le Bar Bat and CB's Underground. Audiences have been known to truly "wake up" when Finotee takes the stage. Their live performances are popular because of the energy the band exudes which is as unique as their original music. As they continue their grass roots musical mission, Finotee allows the music to continue to speak for itself.