Velvet voice singer SHERYL GAMBO is unmistakably Congolese music scene’s new sensation. Released by the young African label DEE SOUL IN TOWN, her debut album entitled “LEMO YASSA” is an innovative project which had her running off with two trophies at 2007 Congolese TAM TAM D’OR awards: “Best new artist revelation” and “Best original album “. “AFRO SOUL” is the name of that album‘s concept developed in collaboration with the talented Congolese producer and multi-instrumentalist FRANCKY ”MOULET” MWELE ( Dead Prez, Sean Price, Zoxea, Mpassi, Jeff le Nerf, Alibi Montana, NzongoSoul, ). It is African Urban Contemporary music style fusing African traditional and modern music with Hip-hop, R&B, Soul music, Jazz, Latin and Caribbean influences. This AFRO SOUL project is simply the perpetuation of a long tradition of cultural interconnections between Africa and it’s diaspora: From the emergence of Afro-Cuban influenced Congolese Rumba in the late 50’s and 60’s; to the 70’s adoption by Africans of FUNK music energy and arrangements following late mister JAMES BROWN’s live concert in Congo Kinshasa during the legendary MUHAMAD ALI-FOREMAN fight; to King of Pop MICHAEL JACKSON’s borrowal of MANU DIBANGO’s “SOUL MAKOSSA”hit for his “Wanna be startin’something “ mega hit back in the 80’s, to recent RIHANNA ‘s use of the same Camerounian sound for her “Don’t stop the music’ hit… A soon as you press play, you are drawn in by an accapela pygmee interlude taking you on the motherland. Yet as the second tune rolls in, surprise may be your natural reaction as the upbeat track “ESSI DI YA” pumps heavy R&B grooves while singer SHERYL GAMBO drops soulful melodies grounded in her Congolese traditional music background with killer flow and vibes reminiscent of African-American soul sisters’voices like INDIA IRIE, MARY J BLIGE, FAITH EVANS to name a few, or African legendary icons like South African MYRIAM MAKEBA or Congolese ABETI MASIKINI. Singing in ‘MBOCHI’, one of Congo’s languages, “ESSI DI YA” tells the story of a woman’s renaissance from the stressful conditions triggered by the loss of control over her emotions, actions and the degradation of her Self- esteem. A motivational anthem urging women to stand up and survive no matter how hard the hurdles. Track n°3 ‘OTEMA’ deals of love attraction and desire. It is a smooth old school soul music flavour joint with jazz filled keys, African kora and sanza riffs, hypnotic bass through which SHERYL GAMBO gracefully reigns with her classy harmonies and pygmee-inspired breathtaking closure improvisation . Track n° 4 ‘NGALI PENO’is a club-oriented dance and Funky song where she delivers powerful African-based melodies mixed with classical Funk flavour. Were there still any doubt about HIP HOP culture’s global impact, French rap by Congolese Dee soul combo’s MC comes right on time as an eloquent testimony. NGALI PENO” is a banging dance joint big sisters JOCELYNE BROWN or MAYSA would not deny. Cooling down the atmosphere, the n° 6 french track “POUR UN PETIT RIEN”opens up with smooth latin flavour guitars on a sober rumba style groove providing the needed mood and space for SHERYL GAMBO’s sensuality to burst. The French poetic lyrics tread into the theme of love wounds pains and hopes. As a daughter of the land of RUMBA, Congo, SHERYL GAMBO couldn’t but naturally pay tribute to the legacy of RUMBA and SALSA music, one of her country’s most popular genre.The uplifting n° 6 track “BANINGA BASSI” (my female friends) does just that. Her dazzling, expressive catchy and soulful vocals in ‘LINGALA’ and ‘MBOCHI’ hit your soul and just get you wanna shake your body down to the ground. The songs talks of falsehood, jalousy and questions some sisters’ negative tendency for spoiling rather than nurturing harmony. N° 8 track ‘ELIKIA’, a HIP HOP SOUL and AFRICAN GOSPEL fusion track brings SHERYL GAMBO back into her GOSPEL music roots. She grew up singing in local Congo Brazzaville church choirs and still does. Over a smooth and soulful Hip hop beat, ELIKIA mixes Philadelphia rapper VINCE MC CLENNY conscious lyrics with SHERYL GAMBO’s spiritual-oriented choruses in LINGALA. The song thematic is reminiscent of late MARVIN GAYE’s social and political concerns in songs like “What’s going on” when rapper VINCE questions the state of the world and the reasons why it is going through these troubles and SHERYL GAMBO’s sensitive and expressive voice answer him back with a strong message of hope and faith: stick to the lord above’s assistance no matter how heavy get our troubles (ndima nzambe tango oyo = say yes to jesus right now). N° 10 track “EZALI SONI” (it’s a shame in ‘Lingala’). is a mellow ballad reindition in memory of gone too soon Congolese songwriter GILLYS NTSENDOU The song is a laidback slow jam where silky piano vibes and SHERYL GAMBO’s sweet vocals entertwine on the theme of love wounds and reconstruction The n° 11 African vibe and R&B “KIALANO”joint is a mixture of Funk electro bass –dominated grooves with SHERYL GAMBO’s African harmonising trademark and Congolese Dee soul combo’s rapper French rhymes. A track to bounce to till the break of dawn. Cooling down the mood, the n° 12 conscious lyrics “LEMO YASSA” track is a captivating laid back and mellow old soul music style combining the beauty of SHERYL GAMBO’s sultry and powerful melodies with tasty orchestrations from Fender rhode keys, bluesy guitar riffs…The song was inspired by the war situation which bruised her country back in 1997 and focuses on the need for promoting peace without which no development is possible. The n° 13 “OTEMA” interlude takes you into the heart of northern Congo as SHERYL GAMBO delivers these several thousand years rich melodies and harmonies over smooth mid tempo Hip hop beat and silky and soulful piano vibes. N° 14 track “MWANA NZESSI” closes the album on modern readaptation of a famous Congolese lullaby by late song writer Emile OBOA over dancehall rhythms. SHERYL GAMBO’s LEMOYASSA album is an eclectic cross cultural project reflecting the talents of a generation of worthwhile African contemporary artists and creators.