With so much new music floating around the interwebs, sometimes it’s hard to dig a little deeper and find out more about a promising artist.
That’s why The Profile is breaking it down for you. The Pitch takes care of the nitty gritty factual bits, The Plot serves as a Q & A with the artist, and The Plug is where you can go for more.
The Pitch
There’s Rock n’ Roll. And then there’s the Rock n’ Soul of buzzy Toronto-bred vocalist Saidah Baba Talibah, daughter of Tony and Grammy Award-nominated icon Salome Bey, “Canada’s First Lady of Blues”. Strong bloodline notwithstanding, Saidah is a fierce artist that isn’t afraid to combine rock/funk/soul in all of her performances.
With a Grammy-nominated uncle (Andy Bey) who was once cited by John Coltrane as being his favorite vocalist, producing unoriginal vocal music and lackluster live shows that lack high artistic integrity was just never an option in her mind.
Whether channelling a new school Betty Davis 2.0, or conjuring up images of high wire, genre-defying acts like George Clinton or Fishbone, Saidah’s penchant for producing live concert experiences that are both raw and real typically provoke a reaction – like most good art should.
The Plot
Hometown: “Toronto, Ontario, Canada born at (a place called) Grace Hospital. My parents were my biggest influences, between my father’s deep appreciation for music (he owned a few clubs).”
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Influences: “My mother and my family have always been my biggest influences my mother, aunt and uncle were Andy & The Bey Sisters. Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, The Wiz, Annie, The Muppet Movie, Dreamgirls, Minnie Riperton, Fishbone, Funkadelic, Living Colour, Big Mama Thornton, Bessie Smith. Lately I’ve been inspired by early Black Sabbath, Funkadelic, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Muddy Waters, Band Of Skulls, Jamie Lidell, Saint Saviour, The Dead Weather, Fink. I really could go on…there’s so much music to discover and be inspired by.”
First Song You Ever Wrote: “My Eagle Of Peace”
Favourite local act: “Canadian: Royal Canoe. Australian: Bec & Ben or Spender”
Dream Collaborations: “Jack White, Queens Of The Stone Age, Skunk Anansie, Gary Clark Jr., I really could go on…”
Dream Rider: “(just a small list!)
2 bottles of organic vegan wine (red & white)
A personal Facial steamer
Electric kettle
Organic fresh fruits & vegetables (no fruit salad, no cantaloupe or honeydew melon) ripe bananas, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots (not baby carrots), celery, ripe mangoes, ripe avocado, lemons, oranges,
4 Unscented white 10-inch pillar candles
Manuka honey
Room temperature Filtered water”
Best gig you’ve ever been to: “It’s a toss up between Living Colour at Lee’s Palace and Fishbone at Masonic Temple and Kimbra at Danforth Music Hall”
Venue Or Festival you’d love to play: “Wembley Stadium (venue), Coachella”
The Plug
Saidah Baba Talibah’s album (S)Cream is released today, April 11th through Code One Recordings/MGM.
In support of the album Saidah will be playing the following shows:
Wednesday 16th April: Ding Dong Lounge – Melbourne (VIC)
Sunday 20th & Monday 21st April: Byron Bay Blues Festival
Wednesday 23rd April: Ding Dong Lounge – Melbourne (VIC)
Thursday 24th April: Upstairs Beresford – Sydney (NSW)
Saturday 26th April: Beach Road Hotel – Bondi (NSW)
Sunday 27th April: The Brass Monkey – Cronulla (NSW)
