Shola https://sholamusic.com Music Fri, 19 Feb 2021 22:50:23 +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 Shola https://sholamusic.com 32 32 The Indie R&B single “Red, White & Blue” https://sholamusic.com/2021/02/19/the-indie-rb-single-red-white-blue/ https://sholamusic.com/2021/02/19/the-indie-rb-single-red-white-blue/#respond Fri, 19 Feb 2021 04:03:34 +0000 https://sholamusic.com/?p=1226 This month, I present you with the Indie R&B single “Red, White & Blue” – the first song from the forthcoming EP, “A World of Love & Hate” from my collaboration with The Hogstad Brothers.

Jonathan and Brandon (The Hogstad Brothers) are a VJ/DJ Duo, Producers, Instrumentalists, and my neighbors in Fort Greene, Brooklyn!

Jonathan and I met at a mutual friend’s party in Paris. It wasn’t until two years later, when I coincidentally moved just two blocks from Jonathan’s home studio, that our collaboration was born.

Against a backdrop of funk guitars and a driving electronic beat, the protagonist satirically navigates the dissonance between myths that Black, brown, and immigrant communities are told by those in power, and their own lived experiences.

How has your experience been with the Red, White & Blue?

]]> https://sholamusic.com/2021/02/19/the-indie-rb-single-red-white-blue/feed/ 0 The Sultry New R&B single “Lately” https://sholamusic.com/2021/02/19/the-sultry-new-rb-single-lately/ https://sholamusic.com/2021/02/19/the-sultry-new-rb-single-lately/#respond Fri, 19 Feb 2021 03:40:52 +0000 https://sholamusic.com/?p=1218 Jamaican-American recording artist, Shola Adisa-Farrar returns to the scene with “Lately,” a soothing, sexy R&B track about the exciting dance of togetherness and separation that lovers experience from physical and/or emotional distance.

The main riffs of “Lately” were inspired by sounds on Protoje’s “Bout Noon.” While on tour, Paris sent Shola the track and she immediately loved the vibe of it. Eventually, when the two were both in Jamaica, they decided to work on the song together, and during a three day residency, “Lately” was born. “Lately” is the first single off of an upcoming collaborative EP.

]]> https://sholamusic.com/2021/02/19/the-sultry-new-rb-single-lately/feed/ 0 The Story of Lost Myself https://sholamusic.com/2021/02/18/the-story-of-lost-myself/ https://sholamusic.com/2021/02/18/the-story-of-lost-myself/#respond Thu, 18 Feb 2021 22:30:08 +0000 https://sholamusic.com/?p=1264 During Shola’s year-long residence as a performer for Le Reservoir’s Sunday Jazz brunch, Hot Casa Records’ DJ Duo introduced Shola to French Jazz Pianist Florian Pellissier, sensing they would musically complement each other. In July 2013, their collaboration began, bonding over their love of jazz autobiographies, swapping music, and improvising together, a studio collaboration was born in the hidden basement of Colorblind Studio on Paris’ Left Bank.

The result is ten spiritually-tinged jazz tracks recorded live on analog equipment to maintain the traditional quality, from sultry introspections to rhythmic compositions, grounded in intense emotion. Included are jazz classics such as “Feeling Good” and “I Have a Dream”, a tribute to the music of Herbie Hancock, who has influenced Florian since his formative years in New York, to which Shola penned lyrics.

Raised on opposite sides of the Atlantic, these two artists have combined their talents to compose Lost Myself. This musical voyage blends New-York’s hard-bop aesthetics and reggae-inspired elements, with modern jazz, for a fresh spin on classics and original compositions.

Purhase Album
]]> https://sholamusic.com/2021/02/18/the-story-of-lost-myself/feed/ 0 Jazz + Hip Hop Travel to West Africa https://sholamusic.com/2019/03/15/hip-hop-jazz-travel-to-west-africa/ https://sholamusic.com/2019/03/15/hip-hop-jazz-travel-to-west-africa/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2019 03:46:21 +0000 http://sholaadisafarrar.com/?p=1054 What happens when you put a Hip Hop MC & Beat Maker and a Jazz Vocalist together in room? Well, they make music of course! Adum7 is an Artist from New York, whom I have known since 2006. Like me, he has toured around the World with his music. One interesting fact that we have in common is that we have both performed in a “-Stan” country. A few months after my tour in Kazakhstan, Adum7 spent time teaching beat-making and producing in Uzbekistan. How unique is that?

Last August, while Adum7 was visiting Paris, we decided to bring our talents together to create a unique, interactive and musical crossover experience. As a result, in just a few days, Adum7 and I are traveling to Niger, West Africa to perform music together as well as work with local music students, on a trip that is sponsored by the Africa Regional Services department of the US Embassy. We are very excited to be working together for the first time while combining our collective love of creative expression, travel and cultural exchange.

Our trip begins on Tuesday March 19th, so make sure to follow our journey to Niamey, Niger via Instagram or Facebook.http://www.facebook.com/sholaadisafarrar

Learn more about Adum7 here

]]> https://sholamusic.com/2019/03/15/hip-hop-jazz-travel-to-west-africa/feed/ 0 I Left My Heart in San Francisco https://sholamusic.com/2019/02/18/i-left-my-heart-in-san-francisco/ https://sholamusic.com/2019/02/18/i-left-my-heart-in-san-francisco/#respond Mon, 18 Feb 2019 04:53:21 +0000 http://sholaadisafarrar.com/?p=1091 Three Nights 🎤 Seven Sets 🎤 One Romantic Venue.

As if having three nights to perform over Valentine’s Day weekend at The Black Cat wasn’t enough, I had the pleasure of singing to the most warm and engaged audiences who traveled near and far to see me! The staff at Black Cat was absolutely amazing and they made sure I was comfortable and taken care of. And I had the honor of sharing the stage with four talented Bay Area based musicians: Dr. Terrence Elliot (piano), Dr. Ron Moton (saxes and flute), Arlington Houston (upright bass) and Michael Spencer (drums).

I sang a few of my favorite standards (Save Your Love For Me, Feeling Good, Senor Blues, I Have A Dream…) as well as some of my originals (Evolution, Go High, Going Nowhere, Blue Chords… ) It was a wonderful 3 evenings full of beautiful music, stretched solos, improvisation, and emotion. It is always a delight to travel to do what I love, and being back in my hometown made it all the more sweeter.

Thank you San Francisco. Thank you Bay Area! Until next time… “go high” ✨ It was a wonderful 3 evenings full of beautiful music, stretched solos improvisation.

  • Night One
  • Night Two
  • Night Three
  • Black Cat, before the house opens
  • Fans from LA
  • My Godfather
  • Baba & My Sistere
  • Daddy
  • The Band
]]> https://sholamusic.com/2019/02/18/i-left-my-heart-in-san-francisco/feed/ 0 Shola Reunites with Florian Pellissier at The Winter Jazz Fest in NY https://sholamusic.com/2019/01/08/shola-reunites-with-florian-pellissier-at-the-winter-jazz-fest-in-ny/ https://sholamusic.com/2019/01/08/shola-reunites-with-florian-pellissier-at-the-winter-jazz-fest-in-ny/#respond Tue, 08 Jan 2019 05:34:45 +0000 http://sholaadisafarrar.com/?p=1134 For all you night owls, join me and the brilliant Pianist and Composer, Florian Pellissier with whom I composed my album, for a late night set at The Bitter End NYC.

Friday, January 11th at  12:40 AM (yep… after midnight )

for The Winter Jazz Festival line up at The Bitter End (147 Bleecker Street. New York, NY. 10012)

This post has been updated with a photo from the show.

]]> https://sholamusic.com/2019/01/08/shola-reunites-with-florian-pellissier-at-the-winter-jazz-fest-in-ny/feed/ 0 Jammin’ Jazz in Jamaica https://sholamusic.com/2019/01/03/jammin-jazz-in-jamaica/ https://sholamusic.com/2019/01/03/jammin-jazz-in-jamaica/#respond Thu, 03 Jan 2019 04:19:03 +0000 http://sholaadisafarrar.com/?p=1038 Spending the holidays in Jamaica is always so good for me ! Not only do I spend quality time with my family, dance to my hearts content, enjoy the lush landscapes and eat yummy food, but I usually get the opportunity to advance my music career. And the highlight: after performing to a packed ballroom at the Pegasus Hotel for the Jazz N Cabaret Concert, I was featured in the national newspaper, the Jamaica Observer !

I had a wonderful time performing, not once, but twice on my home island: Christmas night at Jake’s Hotel in Treasure Beach and in Kingston at The Pegasus Hotel, Grand Ballroom.

Plus, I had radio interviews with KOOL 97 FM, HYPE TV and on Nationwide Radio with Vernon Derby.

  • KOOL 97 FM
  • Jakes, Treasure Beach
  • Nationwide Radio w/ Vernon Derby
  • Mommy & I at home in Kingston
  • Blue Lagoon, Portland
  • Monkey Island, Portland

Jamaica is always a good idea !

]]> https://sholamusic.com/2019/01/03/jammin-jazz-in-jamaica/feed/ 0 Monthly New York Residency at Silvana’s https://sholamusic.com/2018/11/12/monthly-new-york-residency-at-silvanas/ https://sholamusic.com/2018/11/12/monthly-new-york-residency-at-silvanas/#respond Mon, 12 Nov 2018 05:25:58 +0000 http://sholaadisafarrar.com/?p=1128 I have the pleasure of working with City Love NYC who hosts monthly shows, every third Thursday of the month at Silvana’s in Harlem. The showcase brings together three artists to perform short sets with a live band to create a beautiful night of music and fellowship.

I am excited about this opportunity, not only to familiarize myself with a New York audience but also to try out my new music. If you are in NYC, please join us for a night of live music.

Dates are set for  Thursday November 15th, January 17th and February 21st.


]]> https://sholamusic.com/2018/11/12/monthly-new-york-residency-at-silvanas/feed/ 0 Live Music Week in Paris https://sholamusic.com/2018/07/13/live-music-in-paris-july/ https://sholamusic.com/2018/07/13/live-music-in-paris-july/#respond Fri, 13 Jul 2018 09:31:35 +0000 http://sholaadisafarrar.com/?p=950 I like spending my free time going to concerts; listening to live music. This week there is so much good music to hear, and great performers to see live in Paris. Already, I have had the pleasure of seeing my dear friend, multi-Grammy Award Winning Jazz Drummer, Ulysses Owens Jr. perform with Peter Martin (piano) and Viktor Nyberg (bass) at Sunside/Sunset  last Saturday night (July 7th).

MONDAY (July 9th), I headed north to La Petite Halle to watch 2x Grammy Nominated Drummer Nate Smith and his kinfolk, who included beautiful Brooklyn songstress Amma Whatt  and saxophonist Jaleel Shaw, perform a sold-out concert that made Parisians demand a double encore!

TONIGHT (July 13th), I’m going to the Duc du Lombards to see Christian Sands who will surely woo with his piano chops.  *See below the video I took of Christian that night. I was so lucky to be seated next to him to see his fingers glide across the keys up close and personal. What a talent.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY (July 14th & July 15th) I’m super excited to support AfroPunk Paris for the fourth year in a row and see Gary Clark Jr (I’ve been listening to him everyday for two weeks now), Davido, Damian Marley (both of whom I saw in concert last year), Maxwell and SZA.

What a great week to be a music lover in Paris.

Follow me on Instagram (@sholaadisafarrar) to watch snippets from these concerts and more …

]]> https://sholamusic.com/2018/07/13/live-music-in-paris-july/feed/ 0 Kazakhstan: 8 Shows, 6 Cities https://sholamusic.com/2018/07/13/kazakhstan-musictour/ https://sholamusic.com/2018/07/13/kazakhstan-musictour/#respond Fri, 13 Jul 2018 08:35:54 +0000 http://sholaadisafarrar.com/?p=838 Named the “California Princess of Jazz” I just returned home from a 6 city, 8 concert music tour through Kazakhstan (Central Asia). Kazakhs love jazz music and I performed with two orchestras, traveled by plane and minibus to the North, South, East and West regions of the country – which is quite a lot, as Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country in the World. I loved it ! And, I learned my name is шола адиза фарраp in Russian.

I have to be honest, I had a lot of trepidation when it came to traveling to Russia, for the first time and then on to Kazakhstan. Not only had I not heard much about this region, but the things that I did hear where not positive – most significantly the overt racism towards people of African decent. However, my experience was nothing but positive and in fact I now say that the Kazakhs are the most kind and nurturing people I’ve ever met throughout all of my travels. People were so affectionate; often giving me hugs and cheek kisses after a show; they were generous: I always received flowers or chocolates, and very accommodating; they fed me well and made sure I had whatever I needed to be comfortable.

I didn’t have much time to explore each of the six cities I performed in, but I did eat the food and met a multigenerational audience of music appreciators who came out to my concerts each night. I performed in some of the most decorative music venues (in Uralsk & Atyrau), the most uncommon (Karaganda Circus) and in cafes that felt like they could be in Paris (MuzCafe, Almaty). I performed with four different groups of musicians: two quartets, organized by Russian pianist Alex Cheremizov, and two orchestras and I must say, I rocked it out. This was an incredible experience musically and culturally , and I would go back to Kazakhstan whenever next I receive an invite.

Now to my trip in concert photos. (click to enlarge)

Here was our itinerary:

– Sun. May 27 Aktobe,  Art Centre Aktobe

– Mon. May 28 Oral/Uralsk 

– Tues. May 29 Atyrau

– Wed. May 30th & Thurs. May 31 Pavlodar, Palette Jazz festival

– Fri. June 1 Karaganda, Karaganda Circus

– Sat. June 2  Almaty, Muz Café

– Sun. June 3 Atyrau, Armata Restaurant

Want to see more…

And here is a moment I really enjoyed from the tour…more on my YouTube channel

 

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