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Greenlaw
photo by Branko Mustafovich
Greenlaw can be a solid funky duo or a massively smooth 4-6 piece live band. No matter the lineup Greenlaw always keeps heads bumpin' and faces smilin'.
Skyla J - Flute and Vocals
Ozzie - Bass and M.C
Additional Players - Drums, Keys, Guitar, Back Up Vocals and Horns
Biography
Biography Highlights
Greenlaw is paving the way for their much anticipated debut album with Formation Records that is due for International release in fall of 2007. Greenlaw's earthy soul sound is a new direction for the UK based DnB label. Front woman Skyla J comes with powerful thought provoking lyrics presented with an angelic molasses like voice that has been compared to an early Jill Scott meets India Irie by UK's F magazine. Winners of the "most memorable show of 2004" the band released their full length studio album in 2005 entitled Time and Energy that was quickly hailed by CBC Radio 1 as one of the "top albums of 2005". Recently the band has been nominated for an Indy Award in London England. Greenlaw has also been featured at top festivals, showcases and venues throughout North America, Europe and the UK , Montreal Jazz Fest, CNE Urban Music Fest and Winter Music Conference are just to name a few.
A More Detailed Story ....................
Skyla J and Ozzie have been a strong innovative force in music for over nine years. The moment this talented vocal / composer duo met there was a magical creative explosion, and they have been writing and performing beautiful soul stirring music ever since.
As if driven by some unseen force Skyla J and Ozzie left Victoria B.C in 98 and headed to Toronto to start their first project Selective Collective. An eight piece Hip Hop Jazz band. Their self titled debut album received national distribution by Nuff Entertainment and saw them perform at high profile concert events such as Montreal Jazz Fest , Toronto's Street Fest and CNE's Urban Music Fest, just to name a few. Skyla J also got a chance to see her talents revealed internationally when a song she wrote and recorded for Toronto producer Teknostep (Next Une) was chosen to be the single off of his album "Music for short attention spans". This tune now has five international remixes including one by Chicago house legend Roy Davis Jr.
Greenlaw was born in 2003, presenting seductive, powerful songs that stay in your head for days. Skyla J, writes with a direct and beautiful simplicity. Delivering it with a voice of an angel, she consistently provokes thought and reaches the hearts of all that listen. After six months of writing, rehearsing and recording Greenlaw bought a van and hit the road, booking a whirlwind tour across Canada that brought them full circle to Victoria B.C. In only six months they took the city by storm, winning 'Most memorable performance' at Victoria's Monday Mag awards and their live album 'Second Story Sessions' was nominated for best local C.D.
Connecting and inspiring people through music is what Skyla J and Oz live for. After selling more than 3000 copies of their live album and consistently playing sold out performances it was time to hit the road again this time overseas to the UK. After only a few short weeks in London, England Greenlaw was Quoted as "hotly tipped" by The Chiswick Times and featured as a not to be missed headlining act at London's top venues : Cargo, Spitz, Tenrooms Blue Jay Jazz Lounge etc. They also managed to record a new album that truly embodies Grennlaw's fresh and soulful sound titled Time and Energy. It's no wonder CBC voted it as one of the top albums of 2005 and Errol Nazereth of Eye Magazine says 'Of all the female singers in the local R&B, soul and hip-hop scenes, Skyla J's voice is the warmest and most seductive'. Immediately after arriving back in Canada a representative from Formation Records UK took notice of Greenlaw and immediately signed them. Greenlaw are now in the process of Recording their much anticipated new album with Formation Records, to be released and distributed Internationally Fall 07'. Greenlaw graced some serious stages Summer 06, Sundance Music Fest/Estonia, Shambala, Nelson B.C, and ICA Folkfest Victoria were just a few. Coming up they have the Winter Music conference in Miami and an International Tour that will ensure massive amounts of solid fans world wide.
Click here to request a booking for Greenlaw...
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