Creative Process – Shola https://sholamusic.com Music Tue, 17 Apr 2018 16:48:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://sholamusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cropped-radio-waves-32x32.png Creative Process – Shola https://sholamusic.com 32 32 It’s My Album Anniversary! https://sholamusic.com/2018/04/17/its-my-album-anniversary/ https://sholamusic.com/2018/04/17/its-my-album-anniversary/#respond Tue, 17 Apr 2018 16:48:05 +0000 http://sholaadisafarrar.com/?p=642 Sunday April, 15th my debut album, Lost Myself turned two!  For the first time since we finished the mixing of the album, I listened to the entire album from start to finish. And I actually really enjoyed it. Listening to myself sing for 45 minutes was no small feat, but I did it. I am proud of the body of work we, myself along with the Florian Pellissier Quintet under the direction of Julien Lebrun, created.

When I think about the last two years and what has happened since the album was released, these are some of the things that help me appreciate this accomplishment.

  • I’ve headlined concerts in 10+ countries on 4 continents
  • Music from the album was featured in Spike Lee’s Netflix series, “She’s Gotta Have It”
  • Lost Myself was named “Best Vocal Jazz Album of 2016” by Echoes Magazine (UK)
  • Lost Myself was the #1 selling Jazz album on iTunes France during release week.

Radio Support:

  • FIP Radio, France (music still in regular rotation)
  • TSF Jazz, France
  • France Inter, France “Partons en Live” with André Manoukian
  • BBC Music Radio UK, played by Gilles Petterson
  • Studio Brussels, Belgium played by Lefto
  • KPFA Radio, SF Bay Area, USA
  • KPOO, SF Bay Area, USA

TV Appearances:

  • TVR 1, Belarus; Africa News, Congo; Revista, RTC, Cape Verde, TV5 Monde, France

And most importantly all of the new people I have met through my music.

Thank you so much for your support!

Haven’t heard the album yet?

 Listen to it here

]]> https://sholamusic.com/2018/04/17/its-my-album-anniversary/feed/ 0 Video: Music Session with Daniel Gassin https://sholamusic.com/2018/04/16/dgmusicsession/ https://sholamusic.com/2018/04/16/dgmusicsession/#respond Mon, 16 Apr 2018 17:59:21 +0000 http://sholaadisafarrar.com/?p=793 I had an inspiration for this melody in 2014 but couldn’t figure out what to do with it. Then eventually, I sang it to Daniel, he liked it and helped me flesh it out melodically. This is a song that we’ve been working on for a while in many parts. We often start our process for a song by talking about what I want the song to be about… how I want it to feel, and then we decide how the music can support and reflect that meaning or message.

I love the softness of this song. This video is of Daniel Gassin and I recording one of the first drafts of the melody and the accompaniment. What do you think?

 

 

After we recorded this video, I went home to finish writing the lyrics. However, I suddenly had an entirely different idea and lyrical purpose for what the song was about, and I actually like it better. So currently, this song is still under construction… same melody but with new lyrics and message.

]]> https://sholamusic.com/2018/04/16/dgmusicsession/feed/ 0 My Stage Outfits by Frédérique Mamboundou https://sholamusic.com/2018/04/14/stageoutfits/ https://sholamusic.com/2018/04/14/stageoutfits/#respond Sat, 14 Apr 2018 08:33:45 +0000 http://sholaadisafarrar.com/?p=769 I love collaborating; of course in music creation, but also for other supporting aspects of my career, such as creative direction for photographs, stage coaching and for creating my stage outfits. Since 2016 I’ve worked with Paris based Fashion Designer Frédérique Mamboundou to create concert outfits. Her style is bold, elegant, feminine and has a small African touch with the use of African fabrics. Working with her is fun because I’m able to express my creativity and personality in a different way, through fashion.

When Frédérique and I first met we spoke about my personal style and which parts of my body I like to show off. We also discussed colors that I like best and what is comfortable for me to wear on stage.

You will see some trends:  I like wearing royal blue or yellow/ mustard on stage, and I usually like to show of my shoulders and collarbone or midriff. With this information in mind, the first step to creating la tenue is for Frédérique to draw sketches of different designs. Frédérique usually presents me with 3-4 designs and then I choose which one I like best.

Sometimes I’ll ask her for specific modifications to the design, like longer or shorter skirt, placement of the buttons or zipper, etc, but once we have agreed on a design she will proceed to make the entire outfit in canvas fabric as a tester to make sure the design fits me properly and looks good. At the fitting for the design made from canvas she usually brings the material we will use to make sure I approve. Also at this fitting, I will sometimes give her suggestions of how I want something to appear differently or what kinds of closures (buttons or zipper) I prefer.

This is my last opportunity to make changes before the design in made in the real fabric, so it’s speak now or forever hold my peace. Then she goes off and makes the design in the final fabrics so I can wear the outfit on stage. We have a final fitting to make sure everything is just right and voila – a new stage outfit is born!

Below you will see the process from approved sketch to final wear at the performance venue, plus two other outfits she designed and created for me.  Once Frédérique sets up her online shop, I’ll add the link, but until then, if you are based in Paris and want a customized look, send me a message and I’ll put you in touch with her.

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