NAJE: Cinephoniq

NaJe

Cinephoniq

© 2003 Supervixen Music (Ascap), Mblaze Music (Ascap) (634479671128)

CD permanently out of stock. Sorry!

NaJé's voice and style is a sultry, jazz-tinged cocktail infused with contemporary Euro cool.

notes

***** This album has been released - Please go to http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/naje2 to purchase the album. thanks! *****

San Francisco chanteuse Najè brings a steamy electronica soundtrack to the post chill-landscape this year with her debut album 'Cinephoniq'. Heavily influenced by jazz greats, Billy and Ella - NaJé's voice is a sultry, jazz-tinged cocktail infused with contemporary Euro cool. Add a strong dose of mblaze's downtempo, melodic, electronic grooves and you've got a polished, exotic musical feast!

'Cinephoniq' presents itself with a sound and style that is fresh, sophisticated and deliciously provocative. With an innovative mix of electronica, and ambient textures, 'Cinephoniq' injects a fresh sound into this year's post-chill landscape that should electrify those hungry for something new. Check their latest tracks 'Angel', 'Saturn's Child', and the intoxicatingly melodic 'Wild Things'.

Najè met British sound designer/producer mblaze in LA in the late 90's where they decided to join forces after quickly realizing they shared a mutual passion for video/film and music. They both worked together for software start-up, lava.com, producing interactive music visuals for artists such as Moby, Earth Wind and Fire, De La Soul, and George Clinton. In 2001, they began writing and recording tracks for 'Cinephoniq' at GTM Studios in Laguna and Man In The Maze Studios (their own recording studio) in northern California.

Najè, aka Rebecca Benham, started her musical career in Athens, GA (indie-mecca and land of R.E.M., The B-52's, Man Or Astroman?) in the mid 90's where she worked with Man Or Astroman's? Hayden Thais, after doing a short stint with the all-girl band The Supervixens. Under the band name, Najèbi, Najè started to experiment and finely hone her dynamic sound. Soon after releasing her first album, Najè quickly introduced herself to Atlanta's rapidly growing music scene and began performing regular gigs in top Atlanta /Athens music clubs and on the festival circuit: The Cotton Club, The Tongue and Groove, The 40 Watt, The Sambucca Jazz Café, The Athens Music and Film Festival, and The Athens Jazz Festival in addition to touring and performing throughout the east coast: The Chicago New Music Festival, The Cat's Cradle (Chapel Hill, NC) , Velvet Elvis (Savannah,GA).

mblaze, aka Mike Barnes, British sound-designer/producer graduated from City University, London with a Masters in Music Information Technology to work for Yamaha's prestigious London R&D Center where he spearheaded European contributions to many of Yamaha's pro synthesizer and audio products. During this time, he was offered a job to collaborate with James Bond uber-composer, David Arnold, in programming/sound-design for the movies Stargate and Last of The Dogmen. From here, he then continued his sound-design pursuits with various British bands before more session work led to a move stateside.

" I have to confess to a passion for John Barry's expansive 'Bondscapes" and the great British 60's Sci-Fi TV Themes of Barry Gray like "Joe 90" . I think at heart, its that thrown into the blender with some of todays progressive European sounds and technology that is the essence of the music on 'Cinephoniq'. Perhaps not in a literal sense, but that clash of future-retro and cinematic qualities is an aesthetic that resonates strongly with us." mblaze.

reviews

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  • Spacy Sexy Jazzy
    author: Denise

    This CD is growing delightfully on me the more I listen to it. Naje has a great voice and her lyrics are deep and whimsical at times. I hope to see more of her, meanwhile, I am delighted to be able to listen to this CD on more than a few occasions! This is the soundtrack to your sexy jazzy spacy chill moments alone or with someone special!

  • Smooth
    author: John - Limerick Ireland

    Reallly smooth,. Packaging is original and clever. Naje has a really good voice, shades of that portishead type sound. Reminds me of a local band here in Limerick City DeLorean Suite http://www.deloreansuite.net Angel is my favourite track. Perfect coffee house lounging music. Wouldn't be surprised if this gets picked up for one of those chill out compilations

  • A Most Excellent Escape – Mesmerizing and Seamlessly Astrofunkadelic!
    author: Big Red Daddy

    From track number one to the last "Eternal Kiss" – A first class trip! Every single song is an ephemeral and seamless seductive journey. The vocals and music intermingle into the perfect "give me a martini and let me dream" sound. The verdict? Melodic, fresh and intriguing … Star studded content!

  • A beautiful soundtrack to a film that doesn't exist
    author: Zumby - www.auralgasms.com

    Naje, aka Rebecca Benham, has created a beautiful soundtrack to a film that doesn't exist. Her debut album, Cinephoniq, follows the vein of Portishead, with a jazzy, downtempo film noir feel. In addition to the wonderful samples, Naje has made a full length MP3 download of So Strange available for you. Get your copy in the Auralgasms download section.

  • author: souvenir

    This is a disc full with great songs and beautiful vocals. I spin it regularly.

  • What an excellent project!!!
    author: Bill and Margie Van Dorn

    What an excellent project. From the packaging to the wonderful songs, voice, sounds and production. Wow! I have some Mono and St. Etienne in my collection, now this CD will be right there prominently. I think I even heard a promo of some of your tracks on a local (Eugene, OR) station! Let us know when the next one is coming.

  • Naje's 12 track gem reflects the likes of Bic Runga, Sunset room, Strawpeople, T
    author: Jefferey Smith, Downbeat Music

    Naje, the San-Francisco based female singer and producer mBlaze fill the missing gap between solo female vocalists and electronica, fusing powerful, uplifting vocals with 1960's lounge styled voices and backing instruments with a touch of today's modern electronica and triphop. This 12 track gem comes packed in a sexy silver tin with a simple picture of Naje herself on the cover wrapped in feathers which again reflects the wealth and beauty of her music. The whole album reflects the likes of Bic Runga, Sunset room, Strawpeople, Tara King Th., Portishead, Morcheeba and Zero 7, if you like them, you'll find happiness in Naje's album 'Cinephoniq', perfect for putting on in a classy bar, or when at home with a few drinks trying to impress some friends with your fine taste in downbeat music. Keep it up Naje.

  • Star Potential!!!!
    author: Rod Royce

    The next big star!

  • A fantastic cd and this singer's voice will steal your heart
    author: Rod Royce KCLA FM 99

    This CD blew me away with it's wonderful well written lyrics to it's sultry sound. As a DJ, I am use to only a couple of tracks on a CD being good yet to my amazemet it was great from start to finish. This singer is the next big star.

  • reverberate> resound in or as if in a series of echoes.
    author: Jill Hesseltine HF Film Productions

    Unforeseen, the 30’s and 40’s acquired the privileged jazz sounds of blue soul. At the heart of it - Miss Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Our generation must take heed as it strikes gold beyond the blend of these legends to give orbit to a New Venus…we have the young angelically deep voice of Naje. Her lingering melodies taunt and coax the listener unknowingly delivering one to the door of bliss. “Angel” - a bittersweet love lullaby… “all I did was love you, all you did was lie to me...with sin cer i ty.” Brilliantly written and produced- this is Naje and mblaze’s synergistic masterpiece. The ‘steamy chill noir’ sounds of 'Cinephoniq' offer mystic hints illuminating the next siren of the soul Naje, and her master craftsman mblaze.

  • San Francisco chanteuse, Najè, brings a steamy chill-noir soundtrack to the post
    author: Downbeat Music

    'Cinephoniq' should electrify those hungry for something new!

  • Naje's 'Cinephoniq' out on XXFXX Records is full of passion and 'steamy chill no
    author: Hungary's Premiere Trip Hop Site for Everything 2 Trip on!

    Najé: Cinephoniq 03.12.07. San Francisco-based female singer Najé and producer Mblaze makes the fusion between old french chanson stylee and electronica, and it works: Cinephoniq out on XXFXX Records is full of passion and 'steamy chill noir', as they say.

  • Sexy, Danceable and "Sing-toable"
    author: Kristine Cummins - Web Designer

    Naje's music needs to be on the radio - her talent deserves to be recognized. She's radiant, dynamic and firey. Her voice is smooth like Sade and Portishead and the tunes are full of personality like Bjork.

  • An instant flashback to a more acid jazz Sade
    author: Brian

    I had the pleasure of listening to Naje's tracks and felt an instant flashback to a more acid jazz Sade. Ethereal vibe bathed in a sultry acid jazz groove. Lounge Lizard echoes drifting in the tracks as well make your tracks borderline commercial fodder. I think you could have some hits with more focus on creating tantalizing hooks within the songs.

  • Trippy, Soothing brilliance.
    author: Travis

    Universal cruising sound soothes, strokes. Perfectly composed and performed. Angel is brilliant

  • Pretty cool stuff
    author: jean

    I think this is their first album, pretty cool if you ask me. Very well polished, great production, nice soundscapes, some of these tunes will stay with you for a while! Bring more!

  • Lovely vocals, lush production, catchy tunes with interesting arrangements.
    author: Kurt

    If you like Portishead, Mono, or Goldfrapp, you'll find something here for sure. A nice blend of electronica, trip-hop, sumptuous vocals, and interesting arrangements and sonic landscapes. Very soundtracky and Bond-esque in parts. "Angel", "Bombshell", and "Cosmonaut" were the standout tracks for me, but really all the tracks have something going for them, from up-tempo ("Rewind") to melodic-ambient ("Saturn's Child) to John Barry ("Wild Things"). Put on a tux, shake some martini's, and get Cinephoniq playing on your stereo!

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