“After that I moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. While going to school over there I picked up rapping as a hobby. I used to write rhymes and battle kids for fun. My attitude and temper got me kicked out of school in Ethiopia and I went to a Military school in upstate NY. That is where I continued to rhyme and eventually I grew into my passion.”
“It has been said that Ethiopian-born, singer/songwriter Wayna possesses a voice that is as sweet and pure as it is honest and passionate. This young talent’s love for music started as a child, when she starred in theater productions like “Annie,” and “Damn Yankees” and toured with a children’s musical review company. Wayna went on to hone her vocal talents as a young adult by absorbing the works of her favorite artists, including Minnie Riperton, Billie Holiday, Stevie Wonder, and Donny Hathaway.”
“With one voice and one guitar, Jörg and Munit create an amazingly warm and energetic atmosphere, telling stories with their music and painting pictures about love, life and memories in Amharic, English and sometimes with no words at all”
“Ethiopia await, all Prince and Princess!”—so chants famed reggae artist Buju Banton on his album ‘Til Shiloh, but what Buju didn’t know was that the wait would soon be over; Ethiopia birthed an artist–a true embodiment of the Reggae movement’s romantic longing for Ethiopia. Her name: SHEBA Sahlemariam.
reverbnation.com/shebasahlemariam
“Burntface is a movement… A movement which speaks to those we feel are largely unspoken to. Burntface is not a voice in the darkness; it is what happens when the darkness itself starts to speak. Burntface is a process that begins with the realization of our collective struggle and finds its power in an inconspicuous wink to the millions of people who comprehend that we humans have far more similarities than differences.”
Kenna Zemedkun, was born in Addis Ababa. His family migrated to Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he first fell deep in love with American music, specifically U2’s Joshua Tree, an album that would forever shape his sonic aesthetic. For many years he struggled to find himself, working odd jobs and attending college. Until in his late teens he returned to his first love: music.
Ayoe Angelica is a Danish-Ethiopian singer. Her debut album is titled “I’m Amazed” (2008/2009). In co-operation with producer and composer Mads B. B. Krog, Ayoe delivers an unheard and exciting combination of soulful vocals, acoustic elements and crunchy electronics, complemented with a touch of lo-fi jazz.
More @ ayoeangelica.dk
Meklit Hadero is an Ethiopian-born singer, musician, and Resident Artist at the Red Poppy Art House in San Francisco. Drawing inspiration from Jazz instrumentalists, American songwriters, and Ethiopian vocalists, Meklit’s music is at home in multiplicity. Lyrically focused, with a honey voice alternately delicate and vast, she quite literally dances the music alive.
He’s DOPE. You can preview and buy his album here. More from his blog.