Neo Soul

Chandlar

It’s time to dispel the myth that Soul music is merely a style. Through the vocal and production talents of Chandlar, Soul music is redefined as an expression of honesty and sincerity. Chandlar comes by his intense love of music honestly as his roots sprung up from the musically rich soil that is his family. With parents who formed the Soul/Funk band Kara and an uncle who has worked with the likes of Rufus and Chaka Khan, Earth Wind & Fire and Curtis Mayfield, it was only a matter of BPM’s before Chandlar’s love and respect for music would manifest itself and create the artist he is today.

Each track on his CD, Keep Doin’ Me Like That, is a fresh interpretation of yesterday’s mood with a dash of new school rhythm and rhyme. Chandlar’s musical sensibility, skill and talent has been utilized by such folks as Creator’s Way Associated Labels/Atlantic and Kid Capri’s TML Management. His smooth vocal and stage performance has also recently been featured on BET’s 106th & Park. If you have yet to experience Chandlar, New Sound Network cordially invites you to do so . . . NOW.

Mothers Favorite Child
Unlocks the Vault

Mothers Favorite Child came to the scene, not as an individual or a band but as a musical movement. Producer/Songwriter, Paris Toon formed this particular movement to convey his belief that true soul music is organically grown from inspiration. His purpose on the planet has always been to write and produce great, timeless music that creators and listeners alike can admire and be proud of.

The key element in the Mothers Favorite Child music-making process is recording everything from the scratch vocals to rough musical ideas as if it’s the final recording. Each recording brings new magic and sometimes evolves into new sounds resulting in multiple interpretations of then and now.

Here and there, snippets of these pre-produced studio tracks have made their way to various websites across the cyber universe and as a result have created a surprising demand for a full-length album. This highly anticipated creation has been in the works for some time, delayed only by the creator’s need for the “truth” in each and every track (that truth compiled of the best musicians, vocalists and lyrics for the project).

Though Mothers Favorite Child is intent on taking as much time as necessary on their first major release, they do recognize that their eager audience is in dire need of a soulful pacifier. As a gift to those who believed there was no reason for some of these “rough cuts” to remain buried within studio hard drives, Mothers Favorite Child opened the vault and blew the dust off of a few favorites, showcasing the soothing vocals of Tanya Thillet.

The result is MFC’s latest collaborative effort - The Audio Files.

As lovers of music, we (the listeners) seek truth within a sound and movement within words. When a voice can take us through an experience that changes the rhythm of our breathing, we know we have been touched by musical grace.

Enter Rhian Ayanna…

A classical education, decorated with opera, soul and musical theater backgrounds, is merely a drop in a deep blue bucket for this undeniably gifted chanteuse. Certainly we should recognize Rhian’s formal training at the University of Northern Colorado and her study under such talents as Sarah Dash (LaBelle) and internationally renowned opera singer Diane Bolden-Taylor. It is just as important to note her honorable mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition for her composition Time.

Though she has clearly left a mark on the musical universe through each of her accomplishments, nothing can prepare one for what transpires the moment Rhian parts her lips to set free her vocal splendor. Rhian has a unique ability to transpose her environments, her cultures and her choices into profound lyrical arrangements that reflect an awareness of a universal experience.

Born in New York and reared in Trinidad, Rhian was destined to breathe notes filled with diversity, warmth and spice. The same voice that has journeyed through Gospel and Jazz realms can just as easily ease into a Caribbean melody and mix it up with urban flavors. Much like a chameleon, Rhian is able to take on the colors of the music that surrounds her, becoming one with sound and vibration. With a quality such as this, it is no wonder that her nation-wide experiences include performances at the Blue Note Jazz Club, a vocal appearance on RH Factor’s 2004 Grammy-nominated Strength EP and background vocal performances with Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets.

Still, the most extraordinary quality that Rhian possesses is not her many notable accomplishments, not the fact that she writes and arranges her own songs . . . it is her power to reach within each listening individual and touch the part that longs to fly. She is not afraid to plunge into the depths of human emotion and she does it naturally.

She is a performer who undoubtedly shifts the paradigm for today’s artist.

She is Rhian Ayanna.

Nigel Hall

Jazz
Soul
Funk . . .

These are not just words to the young and immensely talented musician known as Nigel Hall. These are his three square meals each day. These are oxygen, water and love. The world of music is where Nigel resides and it is the reason for his every move. From the time he was a child, music, just as sunlight, has been the thing that wakes him up in the morning.

Nigel’s appreciation for artists like Herbie Hancock, Donny Hathaway, Roy Ayers and Rick James inspired him to place his hands upon various instruments and play. His keen ear and unstoppable drive have helped him to become a one-man band, appearing on keyboards, bass, drums and even vocals. His skillful sounds have been featured in several venues across the country but are most often showcased in his hometown of Portland, Maine. His funk/jazz band, The Nigel Hall Quintet is a regular occurrence at The Big Easy nightclub.

Nigel Hall is an avid listener and enthusiastic creator of great music. When Nigel is not out playing live shows, he is home recording his ideas. When he sleeps, he is dreaming up his next composition. He is the Curtis Mayfield of today, the D’Angelo of yesterday and those who have experienced his talents first hand anxiously anticipate who he will be tomorrow. If you ask Nigel to tell you a little bit about himself, he will simply say, “I’m just someone who lives, eats, drinks music.” To learn anything more, you’d have to listen to the cd . . . it will become quite clear that his statement rings true and that there’s so very much more.