Born with an unusual name that is eclipsed only by her talent, Yewande (pronounced E-wán-day) has been recognized as one of the most sought after independent artists in the world. Her socially charged brand of Alternative Soul music has captured audiences and critics alike from B. E. T. and MTV to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a self-written/produced debut EP ("Evolution") that the world has been waiting for. "In a musical era claustrophobic with sameness emerges an artist who has chosen to be a voice on an avenue of sound less traveled in today’s music. With increasing recognition in an industry where different doesn’t always get the credit it deserves, Yewande has joined the ranks of today’s pioneering artists (Eventlinks.com)". She seems destined to change how we look at life and listen to music, but it is likely her birth name (Yoruba for "reincarnation of grandmother") that has already placed her amongst the most progressive storytellers of our time. While classical training in voice and piano at Howard University and the Carnegie Mellon University Conservatory of Music polished her technique, it was Yewande's childhood dream to change the world. From the concert stage and lecture halls to remote villages across the globe, the world is just beginning to witness a dream fulfilled. While moments taking center stage with the likes of Black Eyed Peas, Enrique Iglesias, Michelle Branch, India.Arie, Sean Paul, A Simple Plan and Maroon 5 are memorable, nowadays you can find this award-winning singer-songwriter/producer turned lecturer and cultural activist using her voice to change lives. As an award-winning public speaker (APCA 2007 "Diversity Event of the Year"), her diversity and leadership lectures are bridging the gap between racial tolerance, cultural understanding and social justice for the MTV generation on college campuses across the United States of America. And as a 2008 honorary cultural ambassador to the U. S. Embassy in Malawi, Africa, her commitment to promoting education, AIDS prevention and sustainable skill development through music is furthering the dreams of some of the world's most vulnerable children from Africa to the Americas. And as if that weren't enough, soon Yewande will be able to add the title of distinguished scholar to her list of accomplishments as she completes her M. A. in Ethnomusicology at the University of Sheffield in England, where she has dedicated much of her research to uncovering the connection between music and social change. In this mixed up, crazy world, perhaps it's this relentless search for truth that has captivated a legion of fans. Poverty, love, war and religion are just some of the themes that paint the inspirational canvas of "Evolution". Much like her progressive contemporaries - Outkast, Lenny Kravitz, Meshell N'degeocello, Seal, Kina and Black Eyed Peas - Yewande's music dares to be bound by genre. Injected with a fusion of live band, world beats and pop sensibilities, her refreshing approach to writing and production is something to behold. "My music is written from the deepest, most personal moments of our humanity colored with varying shades of joy, loss, struggle and triumph. My music is simply a reflection of those moments...how can that be categorized?....Soul, Rock, Hip-Hop....I'm all of these things and they are me." Are you ready to elevate your soul? The journey begins with "Evolution".
OTHER WEB SITES:
To learn more about Yewande's award-winnning global programming, don't forget to visit her at:
www.yewande.com - Lotus Records
www.changerocksfoundation.com - Youth Empowerment Programs
www.globalinstituteforchange.com - Diversity and Leadership Programs
MORE RECORDINGS:
If you love what you've heard so far, be sure to check out more of Yewande and other incredible indie artists on the following compilations with Soul Brother Records (London):
2005 "This is Soul"
2004 "Best of Organic Soul" (Universal Records Japan)
2003 "Organic Soul III"
MEDIA REVIEWS:
“She is Tina Turner, she is Nina Simone, she is Sarah Vaughan, she is Tracey Chapman, she is every woman of color who has stepped outside of the box and dared to represent something greater."
- Amplified.co.uk (United Kingdom)
"Many people hear music in their head, but often it never reaches the soul. Yewande is one of the rare artists who dare to speak to an audience about what most artists have forgotten, with a rich expression of creative genius that takes them on an unforgettable journey through music.”
- Indiana University (IN)
“The 2006 headline act of the Malawi Lake of Stars [Africa] was U.S.-based Yewande, a statuesque urban rock songstress, who seized the spirit of the audience and drove them into a frenzy. The magnitude of her voice left no-one untouched.”
- Paste Magazine (U. S.A.)
“Yewande is a true voice in the wilderness. A voice that is forging a deep change in the direction of where music is heading….paving the way for the comeback of artistry that has been lost in beats.”
- Shadesofwoman.com (U. S. A.)
“Yewande’s style of singing is not to be confused with other celebrities that have little substance and even less talent. She speaks of real world issues that have blackened the face of humanity. As soon as she opens her mouth a new day is born.”
- Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ)
"Yewande's bluesy, funky and rocky voice shines through every heartfelt soul groove."
- Tokyo FM, Japan
"Soul-stirring and fresh. Yewande is a refreshing force in a musically stagnant industry."
- Honey Magazine
"Sultry, smoky and yet imbued with a honey-like sweetness, Yewande's voice resonates with a spellbinding, earthy soulfulness."
- Blues & Soul Magazine, London
"Yewande is the best new performer I have seen on the college circuit this past year!"
- APCA (Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities)
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