Musical Footprints: Pioneer TEDx Music Performer at the inaugural TEDx Atlanta Women Event – SOAR ’22

Eight years ago, I wrote a blog post on “Three Nigerian friends and their TEDx Talks worth sharing” little did I know that I will be gracing a TEDx stage myself under monumental circumstances. Monumental because this will be the first ever curated TEDx Women event in Atlanta. Usually for a TED or TEDx event, speakers and performers apply and go through a screening and selection process, so I consider it a divinely destined blessing because on the contrary, I was “discovered” through a social media post comment by TEDx Atlanta curator, Jacqui Chew (Thanks Mark Zuckerberg 🙂 ) and thankfully my brand presence and the work that I’d already put out (Consistency is key) contributed to a positive outcome.

So here I was, in a short time span, I was Jacqui’s answer to her last minute prayer. I joined a formidable and impressive speaker roster of 10, I became number 11, not as a Speaker or a Performing Speaker but as a Performer. Alongside these powerful group of female changemakers, I will inspire an audience through songs, to spread their wings to build a more inclusive and equitable world where girls and women can truly soar.

I chose a fan favorite , “Ile” (Home) and to inspire in line of the theme to “SOAR”, I would close out the event with a “grand finale” performance. I chose to specifically write a song for this purpose titled “Loke Loke” which means “Higher Higher” in my Yoruba language. The video is published here. Grateful to have the musical support of my ABiKE Music duo partner, legendary Bayo Bello on keys and steel pan, a unique addition. Here is our Ile (Home) Performance below, please like and drop a comment. My little intro speech that’s missing is here or scan the QR code below to listen

Thankful for the lovely women I met at this event, the very professional TEDx team and grateful and blessed to be part of making history.
TEDxAtlanta is coming back to the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University. When: Friday, Mar 17, 2023
Theme: We, rise. More info here

Advertisement

African Steel Pan Player, Bayo Bello, re-emerges on the music scene.

LEGENDARY MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST Bayo Bello‘s name is synonymous with the Steel Pan or Steel Drum, an organic melodious percussion instrument originating in Trinidad, made out of an oil drum with one end beaten down and divided by grooves into sections to give different notes.

Bayo Bello on the Steel Pan.

He is the only known African professional Steel Pannist or Steel Pan Player in the US/Diaspora. Extremely talented, Bayo Bello was surrounded heavily by music while growing up in Lagos, Nigeria where he hails from, he also plays the Saxophone, Keys, Percussions, Flute, Vocals, Guitar and maybe some more that we might not even be aware of.

With fellow PK students during a performance break at the Museum Kitchen Lagos 1982

As a young lad, he was a regular known face at Fela Kuti’s organization and had internal access to the afrobeat pioneer’s presence, music and library where he was heavily influenced by his PanAfrican values and outlook. Bayo Bello’s musical journey started when he enrolled at the renowned Peter King College of Music in Nigeria and was the first student ever admitted into the school. He later became a member of the PK Band playing Afro Jazz music, sometimes covering other instruments when the musicians were MIA. He toured various parts of the country with the PK Band and established a stage presence while developing his musical skills tremendously. Peter King will remain his most impactive musical mentor till date.

At Fela’s Shrine..Just bought my first sax from Brother YS (Fela’s saxophonist)..I was on cloud nine on that particular day after dreaming of owning a sax for about a year… – Bayo Bello

PK Band, Bayo on Sax (Credit: Bayo Bello’s Archives)

He moved to the US in 1984 to continue his education at the Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University) where he studied Accounting. He co-formed a band called Tyehimba while he was there. The band played Highlife, Reggae and traditional African songs. He then picked up playing the Steelpan with Pan People Steel Band in Atlanta and became the Arranger for the Band.

Bayo Bello with his favorite instrument, the Steel Pan

He later played with numerous bands like Addis Ababa (a Reggae band), Panorama Steel Band, Tropical Steel, Mombasa and Songhai International before forming his own band – Crucial Vibes in 1994. Crucial Vibes performed cross-genre music including Highlife, Reggae, Calypso, Soca, Jazz and Bossa Nova. Crucial Vibes was the resident Band for the Jamaica Tourist Board, Air Jamaica and the Jamaican Olympic Contingent. In all the bands, he played multiple instruments including the Saxophone, Pan (Steel Drums), Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Flute and Percussions. Bayo has performed in numerous venues and festivals including the Montreux International Jazz Festival at Piedmont Park, March of Dimes, Cherry Blossom and others in different states.

Jamaica 🇯🇲 Tourist Board

With the Jamaican Athletes – 1996 Atlanta Olympics

He took a pause from making and performing music to focus on fatherhood and raising his two children who are now young adults, a decision he made with no regrets. In the meantime, he changed career paths to become a software engineer/developer while music took a back seat. In 2021, with motivation from Atlanta based Nigerian Singer/Songwriter, Tosinger, he was inspired to come back to the music scene and together they formed a collective duo/band named ‘ABiKE Music’ He plays the steel pan with so much spirit and soul as a soloist with a unique twist, a rare occurrence with steel band players who usually play in a group or orchestra setting.

With the Panorama Steelband in the 90s

Here is an interview where Bayo speaks more about his musical journey.

Bayo is currently working on producing and releasing original recorded music soon. He plays tennis and dances Salsa in his spare time, in fact, he is very well known in the Latin Dance community in Atlanta. What a renaissance man!

Follow on IG @bayobellomusic

Visit www.abikemusic.com

TOSINGER RELEASES A NEW EP TITLED ‘ODE TO ACCRA’

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
From America to Africa, warm welcoming melodies ring true in a new 3-track EP released by Atlanta based Afrofolk/Afrosoul Nigerian Singer-Songwriter, TOSINGER. The new EP titled ‘Ode to Accra’ was birthed and recorded in Accra during a 3 day sojourn. It was inspired by the vibe and love for the city and her people.

The intro on the EP pays homage to Mama Africa, the Motherland, reflecting the sounds of Accra, rightly tagged “City Vibrations”. Track 2 – “Find Your Way Back Home ft Bubunaé” is a folksy acoustic number, a gentle plea to all to connect back “home” and on Track 3 “Se Daadaa Le Wa?” produced by Kunle Kuti which he laced with highlife guitar riffs, Tosinger’s vocals pierces through diasporic time and space as she checks on her audience in her native tongue of Yoruba .. singing “Se Daadaa Le Wa?” which means “Are you doing alright?”.

Ghanaian music artist, Bubunaé who co-wrote and featured on vocals on Track 2 also executively produced the project with Decorusbeats as the music producer. ‘Ode to Accra’ was officially released on June 21st, 2021 and is currently available on all digital platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Bandcamp, Amazon, Tidal etc.

See https://linktr.ee/tosinger for download and streaming options.

Tosinger · Ode To Accra EP

ABOUT TOSINGER
Atlanta based Afrosoul/Afrofolk Indie Singer-Songwriter TOSINGER, has been singing for more than two decades in Nigeria, the UK and now in the US. With a couple of published works to her name, her music displays a heartfelt conveyance of originality and inspirational lyrics.
Tosinger expresses an afrocentric sublime musical flow that is soulful and folksy, sometimes jazzy, with subliminal messages incorporating her Yoruba language and cultural sounds which sits her comfortably in the world music space.
An eclectic artist in her own right, Tosinger is also an actress and an event curator.
For more info, please visit http://www.tosinger.com
Twitter and Instagram @Tosinger

It’s Not Just All About ‘AfroBeats’ – Here’s New ‘AfroJazz’ Music For You from Shola Emmanuel

Hello Friends,

How is your 2020 going? New Year, New Blessings I pray and I have New Music to share with you.

When you hear the names : Orlando Julius, Manu Dibango, Hugh Masekela and Fela Kuti, what comes to mind? You are correct! Classic and Legendary African Saxophonists whose music has influenced the diaspora and the world at large.

These legends were so widely influential and seriously talented that their music has been sampled and international and western musicians yearned to work with them and some succeeded in collaborating with them, thus spreading the impact of African music globally.

Presenting one of such, for our current generation is:

Shola Emmanuel – Afro Jazz Saxophonist and Music Interpreter

Shola Emmanuel

Carrying this musical torch, Nigerian sax maestro, Atlanta based and world traveling Shola Emmanuel is one of the current wave of afro-musicians in the continuing lineup of legends for the  history books, who is also making a mark in the diaspora. It’s not only about “afrobeats” from Africa which is the rave right now, talents abound in all forms of music (from Africa, in different genres) including and not limited to classical, broadway, folk, pop, folk, rock, soul and Shola Emmanuel represents the Jazz world perfectly.

Following his recently concluded sold out, full house concert ‘Kind of Music’ ( see video) he is releasing a single titled “IFẸ ” which means “Love” in his native Yoruba tongue. IFẸ (pronounced “E-Feh”) is the first single to be released off Shola’s ‘Kind of Music’ album. And guess who the female vocals on the track belong to? Yep, you got it right. Yours Truly. 🙂 The lyrics of the song says “Ife Lo L’aye” which means “Love makes the world go round” and ain’t this the truth.

Shola Emmanuel at his ‘Kind Of Music’ Concert, featuring Tosinger on a piece

Click here to stream the IFẸ song when it comes out on January 31st.  Hope you enjoy it. If you do. Feel free to spread the word and share.

Here is a promo file if you want to groove to it and post on your social media to support good music. Promo link here https://sholaemmanuel.com/ife-promo/ 

Thank you friends!

Love, Peace and Beautiful Music,

Tosinger

Tosinger releases a new song – FIELD OF DREAMS 🍃🌱

Indie Singer/Songwriter Tosinger has released a new song titled FIELD OF DREAMS 🍃🌱. Smooth and ambient, calm melodies and inspiring vocals on a bed of jazzy piano licks played and musically produced by a young maestro, Timothy Ogunbiyi, a current Jazz graduate student of New Jersey City University. FIELD OF DREAMS 🍃🌱 written by Tosinger is a breathe of fresh air lyrically and musically. The vocals in usual Tosinger fashion are soothing and glides on your ear buds to connect to the listener’s heart and soul. The lyrics are motivational and very inspiring.

Recorded at Studio 42 in Brooklyn, New York, FIELD OF DREAMS 🍃🌱 has a simple, minimal, dreamy vibe that is very refreshing. The song lyrically inspires one to dream big and keep the faith. Difficult to box genre wise, Tosinger is Soulful and Ambient, Timothy’s piano elements and upright/double bass played by Chris Gomez are undoubtedly strong Jazz wise, afro drum patterns played by Benjamin James of the Nigerian “The Cavemen” band gives it a World feel, the guitar licks towards the end of the song played by Philip Uzo gives the song a Pop Rock uplifting feel. Nevertheless, Tosinger is more at home with this musical direction, ambient and eclectic musical elements easy listening in nature.

Overall, FIELD OF DREAMS 🍃🌱is a musical masterpiece that will have a lasting legacy as a classic for generations to come. Feel free to choose your favorite platform of download at this link https://linktr.ee/tosinger and share. Enjoy!

Lyrics

Verse 1

Come open your eyes

So I , so I can see your soul

Run through the field of dreams

Run as fast as your feet can take you and soar

Run through the field of dreams

And fly

Chorus

Seek and you will find your heart’s desires

More and more

More than you can ever imagine

Gather them in the field of dreams

Verse 2

Come and close your eyes, so tight

So you’ll imagine what’s in store for you

Come and see the light that shines so bright

For you and me

Chorus

Seek and you will find your heart’s desires

More and more

More than you can ever imagine

Gather them in the field of dreams

Spoken

Whatever you seek is seeking you

So sow your seeds and in due time

You’ll harvest them

Coda

Field of Dreams Field of Field of Field of Dreams

TOSINGER releases ‘Flowers’ video.

Afrikajump

Nigerian AfroJazz/FolkSoul singer and songwriter TOSINGER has released the video for her beautiful song- Flowers. Yeah!

By Lola Scott

Death is a theme that we mostly tend to avoid in life’s journey, even with the knowledge that it is a final certainty for everything that lives, so it is refreshing to hear one more beautiful song that reminds us to appreciate and enjoy these moments we have breath.

Flowers especially encourages us to appreciate those people that matter to us while we have them and vice versa. To quote the artist;

“ “Don’t give me flowers when I’m
dead, where is the love while I live”.People tend to celebrate friends and families,
celebrities, when they are dead and gone, where is the love while they were
alive?“

Tosinger, who is credited for creative works like ‘FINALLY’ released in 2012 and ‘Afrospire’ in 2013 independently released her original full studio…

View original post 137 more words

IS ‘FLOWERS’ A SONG CRY? – A REVIEW BY Tobi Alaaka

Hello Friends,

Hope y’all are doing great.

I recently released a new song “FLOWERS”

I wrote this song in February of 2019 with the pure intention of really just passing a message across as I felt it at the moment. I did not pay attention to structure nor standard rules of composition.  I just let go and let it flow. You can download it here

I  wrote the lyrics as I felt and as it matched the vibes of the track (produced by Lexisugar) and I gave in to the musicality as I felt it in my soul.  Ambient sounds are my sweet spot and I worked with it .   As I wrote on my social media, “not intending to make a hit, just want to hit you with a message”…… we all know it’s no point lighting a candle and putting it under a bushel, or singing a song that won’t be heard, or writing text that won’t be read or making art, if it won’t be appreciated, that is why I thank God for social media, it’s a great outlet and platform of sharing  work for indies today.  I hope you like it and I hope you share it if you do. Above all, I hope the message hits home. My prayer is that the song will reach its right audience(s) through shares and strike heart strings, beyond borders.

Well,  it struck a chord enough for a young and promising intelligent writer and music enthusiast, Tobi Alaaka, to pen a few words about it which I decided to share below.

IS ‘FLOWERS’ A SONG CRY?

Atlanta-based music performer and actress, Tosinger, has just released colorful follow up visuals to her latest single, Flowers.

Flowers, a song produced by LexiSugar, opened with jarring guitar synths, shakers, and a bouncy mid-tempo beat to accompany Tosinger’s vocals which delivered poignant lyrics, and an uplifting vibe.

‘Flowers’ is a song cry, a message from a forlorn creative, breaking out of a mold to lay bare all anxiety and agitation in beautifully stirring music.

In the song, Tosinger captured the value of offering love and support to friends and family while they are still living, and can most enjoy it.

The second verse opened with the artiste inspiring hope with the refrain:

This is not the end / cos everything’s gon’ change

In interviews and social media comments, Tosinger had frequently stated a belief in the ‘healing powers’ of music; and ‘Flowers’, seen in that light, is at once self-care and a love note extended to all her fans and music lovers who may be riding a tough terrain.

As the lead single of 2019, Flowers is a promising invitation to closely follow Tosinger’s diverse creative efforts in what is, no doubt, for the artiste and her fans, a year of tenderness and bloom.

Thanks Tobi for this blurb.

Friends Do watch the video below and like, comment and share. Thank you!

Love, Peace and Beautiful Music,

Tosinger

Seven Songs Selection for Valentine’s Day 2019

Hello Friends,

Been a while. Hope you are all keeping well. A wave came over me to share some of my favorite love songs that may just be apropos for your listening pleasure this Valentine’s Day.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all the lovers and loved ones.

Enjoy my unique choices in no particular order

1. Ola Onabule – Love Again

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

2. Melody Gardot – Love Me Like a River Does

3. KiDi – Odo

“Your flaws are perfect for the heart that’s meant to love you.” – Trent Shelton

4. Marvin Gaye – I Want You

5. Sade – By Your Side

“Where there is love, there is life.” – Mahatma Ghandi

6. Oriri – See Your Face

7. Tracy Chapman –  Baby Can I hold you

“True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked.” – Erich Segal

Here’s a bonus

Damian Marley – There For You

 

Love, Peace and Beautiful Music,

Tosinger

 

TOSINGER SIGNS WITH REHEGOO MUSIC!

We are different

Are you?

I am

I am different

Hi Friends,

It is with great pleasure that I announce that I have taken a bold step forward in my independent music career and signed with an official structured London,UK based global publishing and distribution label by the name of Rehegoo Music.  Some past, current and potential new music releases will be channeled through them. What a huge relief to transition from DIY and be discovered and found worthy/valuable of representation. The hard work is surely paying off. I am excited for this new journey and I hope you come along with me. There is more to the future as it will get better all round. Cheers and thanks for your support so far!

Rehegoo is a dynamic group specializing in creating, publishing and distributing digital products such as compilation of artists, albums and mobile apps.

 

About Rehegoo (culled from their website, http://www.rehegoo.com)

Rehegoo is a dynamic group specializing in creating, publishing and distributing digital products such as compilation of artists, albums and mobile apps. Our team is very passionate about our work, driven by a creative spirit and knowledgeable about cutting edge developments in the digital economy.
Rehegoo was founded in 2014 by an Italian entrepreneur named Marco Rinaldo, who has always had a great passion for composing and producing music. It started out as a small recording company that was releasing albums of talented musicians and singers. The exponential development of our company has allowed it to reach global markets at record pace. Albums recorded with Rehegoo continuously occupy the TOP 100 charts in their specific genres.
Rehegoo’s main goal is to allow all artists to be heard. Our great love for music motivates us to try to make the world a better place for the people who create music and everyone who listens to it.

It is funny how life works , these are pictures I took in Italy (July 2018) and I come back to the USA  to a new opportunity (September 2018) a company with a founder with roots from there. Nothing is a coincidence in life. 🙂 Grateful. Merci Beaucoup.

Here is the first published playlist listed in

Today’s Best Pop Collection
Various Artists
Pop
2018 

and they chose ‘Merci Beaucoup’ from the album ‘Organically Singing’ to be included in this list.

You may purchase/download here 

Thanks for your continued support. Merci Beaucoup!

Love, Peace and Beautiful Music,

Tosinger

 

 

WHAT IS YONKE THERAPY?

Hello Friends,

Hope this post meets you well.

Curiosity is good, disappointment is also real .. .but the cat will still survive, it won’t die.. so the question will be answered LOL 😀

So what is Yonke Therapy? Yes, that’s the question. Well ‘Yonke’ is just a syllabic exclamatory descriptive word purportedly uttered by the tortoise  to describe a type of dance or the effect of the dance.  The yoruba folklore goes that he danced at a party yesterday and danced too hard his body ached, however, his parents must not hear about it because if they do, he will be scolded. Well, ‘dancing is good, and music is therapy’, combine the two, you get “Yonke Therapy“

a folklore (see ‘tales with tosinger’, the tortoise aka ‘ijapa’ is always mostly the subject of yoruba folklore).

Anyway, I know it’s been a minute on this blog, but the time away in comparison doesn’t beat the release of ‘Yonke Therapy’  which has been two years coming; thanks to a quick email history search that made me realize this.  KiMa Music label is spearheaded by Italian DJ & Music Producer Kilian Taras, who specializes in EDM & House Music,  he reached out to me  that he’d love to have my vocals on a track. And here’s Yonke Therapy for you to burn calories, bounce your soul to or just generally get your dance on :).  And No, we’ve not met in person, thanks to virtual technological communications, we still made musical magic  happen and this afrowoman cover graphic is the most befitting of their afrohouse/tribalhouse track muse, won’t you agree? 🙂 🙂

Yonke Therapy is available on the platforms below and more, and radio edits also available for radio play. Thank you my Italian friends and fans for digging my vibe:), thank you Mr Italian DJS for playing our song and thank you Americans, Africans, British, Asians all around the world who are and will also. 🙂 Ese o!

★OUT NOW★
Kilian Taras feat. TOSINGER “Yonke Therapy”
Remix by Ellis Colin, Rhythm Staircase and Diego Antoine Concha
Available on:
►iTunes

►Spotify

►Junodownload

And many more…

And on Soundcloud

Which one is your favorite remix? 🙂

—– GRAZIE MILLE!—-