Muhsinah – How Great

A few weeks back the lovely and talented Muhsinah released a sneak peak of her forthcoming EP entitled Gone – and after many positive reviews – she’s ‘gone’ ahead and dropped an official  first single called “How Great”. I’m digging the slow progressiveness of the track paired alongside Muhsinah’s beautiful vocals. She’s not quite sounding like any other female coming out of DC right now and I’m hoping the light shines bright on her this year. She definitely deserves it.

“How Great” is now available as free download on her website – check it out.

I don’t think I’ve ever posted an album sampler on here before (at least I don’t recall) but with the success of Janelle Monáe’s “The Arch Android” it appears to be that the world is now ready to (re?)embrace black females singing ‘alternative’ style music. Yay! So here’s a girl you may wanna keep your ear on if you haven’t been already.

Her name is Muhsinah and she is a DC native (residing in Brooklyn) who has been in the music mix since  the 2005 release of her debut EP, The Oscillations EP. She rightfully falls under the category of producer, songwriter and singer and during her five years of ‘official’ industry life has independently held it down alongside artist like Foreign Exchange, Flying Lotus, Common and J*Davey. After her recent hotness on the insanely awesome grooveMan Spot track “Down to You” it appears that Muhsinah has found a new spark and is ready to lock down her place as an independent artist.

She is set to release her first studio album which will be produced entirely by the unsigned songstress herself and funded by her fans. As a thank you perhaps Muhsinah just leaked the album sampler called “Dear_______, “ which could be describes as an updated/experimental take on R&B.  Look for her (as-of-yet) untitled album to be released later this year.

Muhsinah – “Dear, _____, ” Sampler

DC native (not Brooklyn living) Muhsinah has been quiet lately but this week she blasted back onto the scene with her newest project The Oscillations: Triangle just released on iTunes. Check it!

Foreign Exchange
Leave It All Behind

Netherlands producer Nicolay, and MC, Phonte one half of Little Brother have come together for their second Foreign Exchange effort entitled Leave it All Behind. With Nicolay moving to North Carolina where Phonte is from and still resides, one would think studio sessions as opposed to the Internet and file sharing that occurred while Nicolay was stationed in the Netherlands would be more frequent. Wrong, the combo figured if it worked, why fix it? As well, with our current economic state where gas is $4.00 per/gallon even though they’re in the same state, money is money.

Lyrically we were all privy to Phonte’s singing qualifications on the first FE album in addition to the sample we received on the first LB album the Listening, and in this day in age where Andre3000, Pharrell, and as of recent Kanye West have flirted with expanding their lyricism to carry a melodic tune this is one of the best experiments from the aforementioned group of artists. Phonte delivers real time stories that everyone has or will experience and can relate to, the disturbing reality is since the disappearing acts of D’Angelo and until recently Maxwell there hasn’t been act[s] besides the usual suspects that have written vivid experiences of life and love. You won’t hear Tigallo talking about buying a drink or getting someone is his ride but you will hear stories with a clear, distinct and fresh Nicolay sound that is in the same vein as the debut FE album. Since his solo efforts and producing for other artists Nicolay meshes perfectly with the North Carolinian and they sound as if they’ve done this before.

FE also reintroduces the world to Washington, DC’s own Muhsinah, who was heavily featured on the album, if you don’t know her, she was recently on tour with Common as a background artist and singer and she has her own EP entitled Daybreak and she proves to play the perfect supporting role on tracks like “House of Cards” and “Daykeeper.” Overall, Leave it All Behind is more than an experiment but a work that stretches the possibilities of good music and makes people forget about the purpose of genres.

Muhsinah – Yiy

Watching Muhsinah’s career take off is like watching a child grow up.

I remember when Muhsinah dropped the Oscillations EP a few years go and became a DC favorite, but ever since then, she has officially blown up. Not only has she contributed to the glorious new Foreign Exchange album but she will also be featured on Common’s Universal Mind Control album. The Brooklyn-based (via DC, of course!) artist is continuing her do it yourself onslaught with two new LP releases. Part 1, The Oscillations: Sine is out now, and the The Oscillations: Triangle will be out this Winter. (via moovmnt)

Buy The Oscillations: Sine at iTunes.

Foreign Exchange feat Muhsinah -  ‘Daykeeper’

Wow. I always doubted Phonte’s singing skills, but I’m pleasantly surprised by how this song went down. Of course Muhsinah compliments Phonte’s vocals over probably one of the best beats that Nicolay has ever created.

This may be the sleeper album of the year.

Download the track for FREE at the Foreign Exchange website.

More goodness from Thursday night’s show.

Muhsinah

Slimkat 78

Brook D’Leau

Miss Jack Davey

Bonus: Jack Davey on Ellen DeGeneres show (seriously?)

Couch Sessions Approved Artist and DC Homegirl Muhsinah is living it up in Europe as I type. She’s going to be at Gramaphone in London tonight with BBC 1Xtra’s Benji B and will hit up Vienna, Austria, and Dublin as well. She’ll be back in DC on April 18th, opening for Nicolay and Panacea at the Black Cat. Daybreak 2.0 is in stores now.

April 2nd – London, Gramaphone with Benji B
April 3rd – London, JazzRe:Freshed
April 5th – Vienna, Austria, Club U
April 9th – London, Favela Chic
April 12th – Dublin, Ireland, Whelans
April 18th – Washington, DC w/Nicolay, Black Cat
April 24th – Washington, DC, DC9
May 3rd – Philadelphia, PA, Black Lily Festival

http://www.myspace.com/muhsinah