NEW YORK (Heliocentric PR/ www.aloeblacc.com/press) - Stonesthrow recording artist
Aloe Blacc who may be most familiar as half of the duo Emanon, semi-finalists on MTV's The Cut prepares to release upcoming solo album
Shine Through featuring the Panamanian soul artist's covers of
John Legend and Sam Cooke, inspirations from Maya Angelou and J. Dilla, with production from Madlib (Jay-Z, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Talib Kweli, etc.)
* Growing up with strict immigrant parents in a staunchly conservative region of Southern California, Nathaniel Dawkins learned at a young age to always play by the rules. When it comes to his music, however, Dawkins is an admitted rebel, unapologetically moonlighting in multiple genres as a writer, producer, singer, and emcee known as Aloe Blacc. You can blame his parents for the dabbling in different styles as well. Aloe recalls growing up listening to music from his family's homeland, Panama, which was just as diverse as the spectrum of music he makes today. Anything from calypso and salsa to funk and soul could be heard in Aloe's home and you can be sure that he was listening. The music and voices of Mighty Sparrow, Ruben Blades, James Brown and Aretha Franklin were just a few of the many and varied artists that influenced him early on. These early musical influences became the resourceful landscape from which Aloe would later draw for his creative works.
His relationship with music grew in elementary school when he expressed interest in learning the trumpet and joining the school band. He continued the trumpet through middle and early high school until his desire to focus on academics left little room for orchestra and marching band. By then Aloe had already fallen in love with hip hop music and was embarking on expressing his talents as an emcee. During this time, Aloe received inspiration from listening to artists such as Nas, Common, The Pharcyde, and Freestyle Fellowship but admits even earlier influences such as L.L. Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, and EPMD. Mutual friends introduced him to a local deejay named Exile. The two began making music and joined forces as the duo EMANON.
Aloe Blacc and DJ Exile have been making the rounds on the Los Angeles hip hop circuit for nearly ten years, dropping a number of highly sought after 12 inchesa��On the mic Aloe Blacc fuses with the beats superbly, crafting conscious raps accompanied by introspective ideas. URB Magazine
In early 2005 Aloe moonlighted as the emcee and background vocalist for an 11-piece latin/funk/jazz ensemble entitled Cartaya and the Enclave. The group was the brainchild of bassist Oskar Cartaya who has produced for and played with the likes of Spyro Gyra, Herb Albert, Jennifer Lopez, and Celia Cruz. Members of the Enclave include some of LA's top musicians such as jazz saxophonist Justo Almario, drummer Tal Bergmen, and guitarist Ron De Jesus.
Later in 2005 EMANON released their debut LP, The Waiting Room, on Shaman Work Records. Aloe and DJ Exile stretched their interpretation of what a hip hop album should sound like by including elements of several different genres of music, which turned some diehard hip hop fans away. Fortunately, it convinced more that EMANON had matured, and these fans were willing to join them in their growth. The duo even reached the semi-finals on MTV's highly rated competition show 'The Cut.' Aloe Blacc wrote and performed an acapella bebop tune on the album exemplifying the slightly unorthodox approach to this project. It also set the stage for a change in the sound of future Aloe Blacc releases.
Innovative thump... Aloe Blacc has the unique ability to somehow make the unpredictable possible ' and danceable. The Fader Magazine
Now as a solo artist Aloe Blacc is becoming a familiar name in the indie soul scene and he is making a name for himself in the Latin music scene with a salsa remix of John Legend's 'Ordinary People,' entitled 'Gente Ordinaria,' on which he sings in Spanish. The overwhelmingly positive response to this Latin-style remix prompted BBE to ask Aloe to remix ?Liquid Love™ on the Roy Ayer's Virgin Ubiquity Remixed project. Another cover on the album includes Sam Cooke's classic A Long Time Coming.'
With the approaching release of his debut solo LP, Shine Through, Aloe is gaining respect from veteran artists with the depth and breadth of his talents. The second single from the album, 'Dance for Life' with 'Patria Mia' and bonus track, 'Evildoers', displays more colors in Aloe's musical spectrum. UK heroes of broken beat, Bugz in the Attic, new jazz virtuoso, Mark DeClive-Lowe and baile funk chieftain, Diplo, have all given Aloe a nod of approval. Kudos have also come from local and international radio tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, Benji B and Garth Trinidad. Aloe's style defying heroes are musicians like Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder who wrote tunes that topped the charts in multiple genres. Shine Through joins Aloe with the ranks of well respected artists who have established themselves through hip hop yet ventured into other realms of music like Andre 3000, Cee-Lo, Common, and Mos Def. Despite criticism from hip hop's purists, those who appreciate good music and the development of talented artists have lauded them all for their strides.
Early peeks into his new solo venture reveal two very distinct singles: the salsa infused bilingual track Bailar and Want Me, a soulful psychedelic experience. XLR8R Magazine a—� Perhaps the most unique track on Shine Through is the acapella tune entitled?Busking, a folksy, old spiritual-sounding tune that Aloe recorded at the bus stop. Only his voice and the sounds of the street comprise the track, however it is one of the most memorable selections on the album because of its simplicity. Another stand-out song on the album is the title track, 'Shine Through,' stripped down to a single voice and a guitar, it was a spontaneous recording - unrehearsed and completely impromptu - which is why Aloe chose it as the name of the album. Then there is a song inspired by a combination of Maya Angelou's poem Caged Bird and her prolific autobiography I Know why the Cage Bird Sings entitled Caged Birdsong which sets the album in a class of it's own.
Aloe worked closely on Shine Through with producer extraordinaire Madlib, who has comprised beats for such well known artists as Jay-Z, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, The Alkoholiks and Talib Kweli.
Shine Through is Aloe's way of showing a timid industry that if they trust the artist, then fans will develop that same trust regardless of style.
