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

Advertisement

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

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

Afrodreamfest NYC 2015 Review by #VoiceOfAmerica (@VOANews) & #AIT (@AIT_Online) Journalist – Adanma Odefa (@AOdefa)

Afrodreamfest has come and gone but the glorious aftermath still linger in the hearts and souls of the attendees . Afrodreamfest, a touring concert to celebrate African Liberation Day ( #AfricaDay  May 25) and promote upcoming talented neo~afro fusion artists in the diaspora took place this year (May 22 at Meridian 23 and May 23 at Silvana Harlem)  in the vibrant city that never sleeps – New York City. It featured an eclectic line up of artists including myself (Afrosoul), Ayanbinrin – the female talking drummer (Afrofolk), Ogasilachi (AfroRnB), Eli Fola (AfroJazz), Laolu and The Afromysterics (Afrobeat), Aduke (Afrosoul) and bonus features Afro pop artistes – Ayo In Motion and Na!ra. To promote the event, you can also watch my Sahara radio interview with the Humble Prince here 

Below is a heartfelt review by International Journalist Adanma Odefa in the selfie below 🙂

Adanma and Tosinger

 

Afrodreamfest Experience in New York City

When a friend of mine told me about the Afrodreamfest in New York City, my first reaction was, ‘I might as well have an adventure, I’ve got nothing else to do!’. So I packed up and went to New York City from Washington DC not really expecting much. Although I had been in New York previously, the city didn’t fail in keeping me on my toes. Finally, we made it to Chelsea where the concert was holding.

Ogasilachi

Laolu

My first thought was, ‘wow! What strong vocals! What powerful lyrics! What artistic sincerity!‘. This was the reaction the young lady Aduke evoked when she sang. Reeling from that, I sailed through several other performances including the beautiful ‘Naira’ who struck me as sleek, chic and distinct with her rap style. Naira effortlessly executed a marriage of American rap culture and African uniqueness.

Aduke

Na!ra

The icing on cake for me was Ayanbirin. She has such a presence on stage that depicts Africanism in a way that was almost tangible. I gawked in awe as she dominated every single person in the room. Her power was all the more enchanting with her backup drummer and sidekick. Day one ended with dancing and exhaustion. I went back to my lodgings wondering what day two would bring.

Ayanbinrin

By the end of day two, I was glad it was a two-day event. I had missed some of the performances from day one so I got the experience of fresh excitement. It was on this day that I got the opportunity of falling under the musical enchantress’s spell. Tosinger endeared me with her beautiful all African costume and her lively stage presence. Day two icing on the cake for me was AyoInMotion. I am not trustful of my capacity to put into words the powerful emotions this artist invoked in me. He reached deep into my soul and pulled out all things African within me and left me feeling sad for those who are unable to claim African roots.

Tosinger

Ayo in motion

Altogether, Afrodreamfest was precisely a dreamy artistic romance with Africa. I look forward to the next one with a barely contained feverish excitement.

Adanma Odefa
International Journalist,
Voice of America.

To see videos, do visit https://www.youtube.com/user/AfroDreamFest

For photos visit, click https://www.facebook.com/AfroDreamFest/photos_stream

Don’t forget to leave a comment and share your thoughts. Visit www.afrodreamfest.com, sign up on the email list to stay updated on future events.

Beautifully Dreaming Positively Doing

Tosinger

Merci Beaucoup – Preview from #OrganicallySinging

Presenting a short acoustic spontaneous version of ‘Merci Beaucoup’ (Thank you very much) – work in progress song from my upcoming debut album project ORGANICALLY SINGING Summer 2015.  I invite you to join me on board this uniquely refreshing organic and healthy afro~soulful music journey at http://igg.me/at/organicallysinging .  I appreciate your contribution to the indiegogo campaign (currently 9% at 28 days left …Help!!! :D) where you can  also lock in your pre-public/pre-order and get perks as well. A special thank you to all who have supported so far.

Laolu Senbanjo on Acoustic Guitar, Kunle Ade on Percussions and Eli Fola on the Saxophone. Recorded at Complete Studios, New York Oct 2014

 

Beautifully Dreaming.. Positively Doing…

xoxo

Tosinger

#BringBackOurGirls Day 57- Two Videos, One Cause

#BringBackOurGirls Day 57

Out of Sight is not Out of Mind

Here’s presenting two recent works of media that seek to  bring attention to the facts and the reality of the abduction of the Chibok girls of Nigeria by Boko Haram. The first is a docu-short put together by David Adeogun of GlassVisuals for the Merry Hearts Foundation;  a 7 minute piece about “Girls, Education, Nigerian reform, and the urgency and necessity of bringing these girls back”. The second is a music video by Ayoola in collaboration with other Nigerian artistes.

Empowering Youths in Africa

 Founded by Bunmi Babajide,  Merry Hearts Foundation  is a non-profit organization committed and dedicated to encouraging and helping youths and children to reach their full potential through education.The Merry Hearts Scholarship Fund is an initiative of The Merry Hearts Foundation (MHF) Inc.

The Merry Hearts Scholarship Fund’s main objective is to provide financial assistance in the form of a scholarship to students in need, while promoting an environment of encouragement to let the students know and understand that they are of value not only to their family and school, but to their nation and the global arena.On a daily basis, due to lack of education, too many of our talented youths are being denied a chance to  achieve  their dreams.

#BringBackOurGirls Video by the Merry Hearts Foundation.

 

David Adeogun of Glass Visuals, a London based filmmaker whose work I have become familiar with over time compiled, produced, and edited the piece. He says:

“This issue is very serious… Every second, every sign, every yell, every action, is needed. Everyone working together is actually a sign of unity and focus. We want this piece to be global. We want it to go beyond us. We want this video to be played on a speaker in front of GoodLuck Jonathan’s mansion. We want it to roar on the computers & screens of every wifi handler in Lagos, Abuja, Victoria Island, the village- Every place, e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.! We want Boko Haram and every organization that has limited Africa to be fed up and gutted by the cries of the people world wide. United we can send even more chills down the spines of every man and woman until something is done”

Ayoola, a Nigerian Artist who won MTN Project Fame West Africa (Season 5) also recently released a song collaboration (with other notable Nigerian Artistes) for the #BBOG cause

AYOOLA FT. SOUND SULTAN, VECTOR, MOEAZY, ZAINA, G_FRESH – FREEDOM (#BRINGBACKOURGIRLS)

 

Keeping hope alive…

Beautifully Dreaming… Positively Doing..

Tosinger

Three Nigerian Friends & Their Tedx Talks Worth Sharing

I am inspired to present to you, my fellow Nigerians who are doing great things, expressing their talents and walking in their callings, in their different spheres of influence in the diaspora. They were recently recognized to give Ted Talks in their respective resident cities.

I have interacted with them over time and I am surely blessed to ‘know’ them. I call them my ‘social media comrades’ and hopefully I believe, Deo Volente, we shall cross paths in real life.  Get acquainted, watch and be inspired.

Here’s presenting Yejide Kilanko, Ayokunle Falomo and Kafayat Quadri and their inspirational talks on TedX

Yejide Kilanko – Canada

Born in Ibadan, Nigeria, Yejide Kilanko is a writer of poetry, fiction and a therapist in children’s mental health. A mother and wife, she currently lives with her family in Chatham, Ontario.Yejide’s debut novel, Daughters Who Walk This Path, a national bestseller, was published by Penguin Canada, April 2012 and Pintail Books (Penguin USA) January 2013.

The novel has been translated into German and Thai.In 2012, Yejide was named one of the top five hottest up-and-comers on the Canadian writing scene by the Globe and Mail. Her next book, A Deep and Distant Shore, is forthcoming from Penguin Canada, winter 2015.

www.yejidekilanko.com

 

Ayokunle Falomo – Houston, Texas

writer. storyteller. dreamer. poet – whose pen is a metaphor for a shovel, to unearth those things that make us: human.

“So, what brought you here?”, or the more direct variant “Why are you here?”, is a question I’ve been asked quite a bit. I’ll attempt to answer that briefly but I’m sure there will be more to talk about. It started with a move here to the United States with my Dad, November of 2007 after the completion of my high school education in Nigeria.I graduated from the University of Houston in the Fall of 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology (minor in Medicine and Society) with the intention of pursuing Clinical Psychology. Life had different plans however. Close to the time of applying for Graduate School, I found out about & switched interests to School Psychology (which I currently pursue at Sam Houston State University). When I’m not doing any Psychology related stuff, I write & perform poems that attempt to answer yet another question “what makes us human?”

| Blog: #ofDreamsAndDeeds
about.me/AFalomo

 

Kafayat Quadri – Malaysia

Kafayat Quadri started playing guitar at the age of 13 years. Her father, a land surveyor introduced her to the guitar since she was 6 years old. He later bought her a mouth organ which he taught her how to play. He played tunes from Rex Lawson, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Haruna Ishola on the guitar and mouth organ sometimes accompanied with the talking drum.
Kafayat’s first guitar performance was at her secondary school (FGGC, Shagamu) in 1996 at the school’s Annual Musical Concert…

Kafayat Quadri – Guitarist, Poet, Singer/Songwriter. Connect at https://www.facebook.com/KM.Quadri

Beautifully Dreaming.. Positively Doing…

xoxo

Tosinger

You’ve got to see this:::Flash Mob – Naija Style At The Lagos MMA2 Airport

Proudly African, Proudly Nigerian!

Have you heard the saying “Naija no dey carry last” as in …while there is no perfect country, Nigeria has its own great highlights and talents doing the country proud and they would not ‘be last’ doing it.  Let’s enjoy this choreography/dance flash mob (which is getting quite customary in pop culture these days) This will be the first flashmob at an airport terminal in Nigeria.  It consists of a mix of professional dancers, cleaning company staff and the Bi-Courtney Aviation Services employees. The CEO, CEO’s wife and COO of the airport also participate at the end.Great way to close the year and keep the traveling public happy. Try to ignore the background comments of the mobile videographer (which is comic relief in itself) 😀

Enjoy!

If you’ve never been to Nigeria, here is a view of the kind of food/snacks you’ll see on a road trip.

(These pics are courtesy of Dapo Taiwo from his recent trip from Lagos-Abuja, thanks for sharing)

Suya – Meat and oh so spicy pepper

More Suya

Grilled Plantains and Fried Yams (Dodo at Dundun)

Are your taste buds activated? If you are based internationally, Do Visit Nigeria sometime.. All the entertainment celebrities have already seen the light, Mariah Carey, Wyclef Jean and J Moss just left 🙂

Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing…

xoxo

Tosinger

‘Ile’ (Home) Music Video gets National Airplay

Hello Everyone,

How is the countdown to the end of 2013 looking like? Remember to always count your blessings and always believe. Never Give Up.  Little drops of water make a mighty ocean.  Realign your mind for even greater things in 2014. I was excited to wake up to a tweet from Pulse Records with the good news that my new music video ‘Ile’ (Home) will be airing on National US media outlets #WorldMusic. How sweet. Pulse Records is dedicated to redefining the modern record label by providing top-tier music opportunities to Independent & Unsigned artists. It’s time to #BeHeard. It is time to be encouraged to make more real and fresh music with a real message #Inspiration

“How can they hear without proclamation”

Make music you LOVE, something that represents your mission and pride. Authenticity prevails for fan support – PulseRecords

If you have not seen the video, here it is: “Home is where the heart is”

Click image below to read the news

Thank you all for your support so far. Be inspired.

Beautifully Dreaming, Positively Doing…

xoxo

Tosinger