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

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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 ‘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…

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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

 

Coast To Coast- Are you searching for Love?

Happy Valentine’s Day

Hope you love yourself first

And as you search for love

Coast to Coast

Then you will find it

God’s love – Self Love – Others Love

In that order

Happy Valentine’s Day

Enjoy Coast to Coast – A song about searching for true love

Coast to Coast produced/arranged/written/played by Jazz Pianist Timothy Ogunbiyi featuring Tosinger on Vocals. Recorded at SoundXtreem Studios (Bossbeats) and mastered by Neks

LYRICS
Coast to coast to find love o
North to South to feel some warmth o
Climbed mountains swam oceans odo(streams)
Ife ni mo n wa
(It’s love I’m looking for)
mowi o , mowi o
(I am saying this)
Owo po, tibi wa
(There’s lots of money and I’m romantically able)
Ile wa , olapo wa
(There is a home and lots of wealth)
Wa
(Come)

Tolulope fo igba aya mi
(Tolulope broke my heart)
Lakunle fe da ori mi RU
(Lakunle almost ran me crazy)
Andrew took a piece of my heart
Ife ni no wa lo
(It was love I went looking for)

Nibo nife wa
(Where is love)
Nibo nife wa
Nibo nife wa
Come fill my heart

Love, Peace and Beautiful Music,

Tosinger

NEW LYRIC DANCE MUSIC VIDEO – LA MUSICO

Happy November everyone,

The lyric music video for La Musico is now out. ENJOY HERE and Feel free to spread the joy with your friends! ❤

Youtube link -> https://youtu.be/WLqGM9Z2MAc .

Thank you!

 

and thanks to all who made it happen

La Musico is produced by Bossbeatz, video recorded by Lloyd Mackayi at Terra Cotta ATL, featuring Actor/Dancer Femi Olagoke and Singer Duwa, percussions by Yemi Conga, back up vocals by Kanyinsola, Bass by Funsho Pitan. SoundXtreem Studios. (c) Dreamweavers Entertainment/Tosinger —–

Download on bandcamp at http://tosinger.bandcamp.com and on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/la-musico-single/id1297458771
cdbaby — https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/tosinger6
Add to your spotify playlist — https://open.spotify.com/track/0W3V0N..

Love, Peace and Beautiful Music,

Tosinger

 

New Music Video Alert – African Nostalgia

Hello Tribe and Friends,

Hope this meets you well.

Here’s presenting the latest video to one of my favorite songs from my Organically Singing Debut Album – ‘African Nostalgia‘ . I have always had an affinity for anything nostalgic, classic or vintage.. I know there are many songs out there that talk about ‘Home’ from ‘homesick’ artists and musicians based in the diaspora, this proves that it’s a general feeling that is easily  relatable for those who live abroad and not just only them, but everyone in general, within or outside the continent, with memories of throwbacks. It is our job as music healers to make this feeling manageable (or incite-able) through our art. There have always been songs on this subject and there will always be in the future. As a diasporan artist,  I particularly have a strong default passion and deep emotion towards the concept of our “roots” and inclination towards “home longing songs”  and I have a lot of memories that guide me on this creative path, this is what also led to my songwriting and storytelling of the ‘African Nostalgia’ song. Click video below —:::

The African Nostalgia music visual is basically a musical imagery and storytelling of some experiences of my childhood and activities I observed growing up in my Grandma’s house in Abeokuta city, Ogun State, Nigeria ; from the sounds I heard, to the people I saw and my environment in general. You’ll have to listen to grasp it and maybe you can recognize a thing or two if you are from a similar background. This video was shot on a hot sunny day, while hiking miles up the Kennesaw mountain in Georgia. I wanted that picturesque green scenic scene that reminded me of the lushness of the African continent, I was not glamorously dressed or anything like that, typical of a music video; it was just simple, an everyday capture and I was comfy (apart from the bugs and sweat :)) ) within my environmental element.

I love Nature. I love Africa. I love Music. I love Art. I love Nature. Oh I think I said that already :). I am definitely a nature’s girl and I believe it’s a God given therapeutic environment which we should use more of, and also conserve and treat kindly.  You should try having nature walks when you are stressed. I (and Lloyd the videographer) were sweating like Christmas goats, climbing up the mountain, huffing and puffing, I had a couple of wardrobe malfunctions but we still tried to pull it off 😀 so just like the album title, this is as raw and organic as it comes 🙂 and I hope you enjoy it.

I want to particularly thank two musical powerhouses who collaborated with me on this song, who I’ve not met but we connected across borders to bring this to life. The talented Ivorien bassist Arnaud N’Gaza  based in Morroco and Daniel N’Guessan, percussionist/drummer also from Cote D’Ivoire. My gratitude goes to Zambian Photographer and budding Filmmaker, Lloyd Mackayi, who I met at TERRA COTTA ATL, who shot the video. Despite being independent and on a shoestring budget, I’ve been blessed to attract, albeit virtually, and connect with fellow talented and beautifully spirited, understanding creatives and  individuals who come across my creative path and space. For this I am grateful. And I hope to come across more in my lifetime.

I hope you appreciate and enjoy the video, or in one way or the other, in some way, relate to it. Please feel free to like, share and comment and subscribe to my new TosingerVEVO channel where I intend to release bit by bit, concept videos of my musical body of work.

Stay purposeful, healthy and relevant.

Love, Peace and Beautiful Music,

Organically Yours, Tosinger

Follow @Tosinger Instagram

Follow @Tosinger Twitter

Naija Chronicles and a New Release: 💭 SiLenT ThOuGhTs 💭 – #BringBackOurGirls

Hello Friends,

Heartwarming greetings from my African sunkissed heart to yours 🙂 and a Happy new month of August to you!

I just arrived from my home country of Nigeria the past month of July, promoting my debut album “Organically Singing”  and  garnering some press/media presence and on ground performances. Follow me at  @Tosinger on instagram  to have a sneak peak of that journey, see a few pics below. Thank God for His mercies, grace and favor and thank you Lagos for your hospitality.

Singing at Jazzhole, Lagos

Interview with Tosyn Bucknor of Top Radio 90.9 FM

Performing at Freedom Park, Lagos with Seun Olota

Interview with Harry Itie for TVC Channel “On The Town”

After radio interview with Olabisi Omidire of EkoFm

 

RhythmFM 93.7 interview on Celebrity Live Wednesday

With Etuk Ubong and the band at Jazzhole

I am also delighted to present to you a creative product of my visit to Nigeria which is officially released digitally today. I worked with the multitalented Producer/Musician – FloRocka– on my latest project, an audio drama/spoken word titled ‘Silent Thoughts’.

Meeting the talented Florocka 6 years after. Prior to this, 6 years ago, I did digital artist promotions and social media marketing for his very first project – The OverFlo

With Flo and Rapper DMSquared

‘Silent Thoughts‘ is an Audio Drama/Spoken Word/Storytelling Project with an afro-theatrical edge addressing the issues of our times. As a spoken form of art on a musical backdrop, ‘Silent Thoughts’ intends to provoke and inspire thought towards change. Things have been quiet lately about the Chibok Girls. Whatever happened to #BringBackOurGirls? What is currently happening?

Download here

Subscribe to my email list at www.tosinger.com  for a link to download on your mobile.

Watch ‘The Making’ of Silent Thoughts

In other news, do take a moment to read my interview with The Guardian NG

Thanks for your love and support.

Blessings to you and yours this new month and beyond!

Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing…
Tosinger
Singer I Songwriter I Storyteller

Artivist mode 🙂

First Episode, New Webisode – Tales With Tosinger

Greetings everyone,

It’s been a minute and here is what I’ve been working on. I sing, I write, I act and I tell stories. I am a modern day griot and a cultural ambassador and my name is Tosinger. 🙂

Here’s introducing,  the first vlog/webisode/series, whatever you choose to call it, edition of my weekly (on Tuesdays)  folk storytelling project- TALES WITH TOSINGER,

Folk tales and fables are an educational and entertaining means of passing down traditions and customs from one generation to the next. An African tradition for several generations,  adults would tell tales by the moonlight while teaching morals and lessons. I have chosen to gather adults and children alike around a social app, a youtube video, the millennial way to get the world’s attention 😉

The inspiration….

Enjoy Episode #001 Dawu the Lion King.  DO SUBSCRIBE, like, comment and spread the word. Ese!  ( pronounced “E-shay ” — which means ‘Thank you’ in Yoruba)

✿

Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing,

Tosinger