Ayo - New Album Billie-Eve Out Digitally November 15, 2011 On MBM Records
Physical Album Release Set for Early 2012
Ayo's middle name, Olasunmibo, translates from the Yoruba language to mean "she who is born elsewhere but who will come back full of prosperity."
This has certainly rung true for the acclaimed singer-songwriter who will be bringing the universal delights of her third studio album Billie-Eve to the U.S. next month.
Born in Germany to a Romanian gypsy mother and a Nigerian father and then musically re-born in France, Ayo has sold more than 1.5 million albums worldwide since her debut 5 years ago.
Now her new LP Billie-Eve will be digitally released in the U.S. on November 15, 2011 via MBM Records.
The 15-track album will then be released physically in early 2012.
Lead single "I'm Gonna Dance" - video:
Co-produced by Ayo and lauded French producer Jean-Phillipe-Allard, the new album was recorded at Sear Sound in New York with an incredible array of musicians and collaborators.
Guitarist Craig Ross (Lenny Kravitz), bassist Gail Ann Dorsey (David Bowie), hip-hop poet Saul Williams, and multi-instrumentalist Ayo who plays electric and acoustic guitar, piano and drums.
The majority of the album came together over the course of five days, the same amount of time that Ayo took to record her first two albums. 2006's critically acclaimed debut Joy received double-platinum status in France and praise from the likes of NPR, BBC and The Guardian. 2008's Gravity At Last hit #1 in France.
Ayo's music is rich with passion, purpose and identity.
Billie-Eve - named after Ayo's daughter and a play on the word "believe" - melds the world beats, neo-soul folk and reggae inspirations for which Ayo has become beloved overseas.
The new album also sees her exploring a more rock-based sound. It's a global tapestry of influences as eclectic as her own worldly background, and was recorded with the live setting in mind.
From the stark and lilting album opener "How Many People" to the funky guitars of "My Man" to the sweet melody of "Real Love," Billie-Eve is a body of work that crackles with the joy, pain and questions of life. "Believe" offers spoken word poetry from the album's only vocal guest Saul Williams laid over gentle echoes from Ayo.
Since the breakout success of Joy and Gravity at Last, Ayo has shared the stage with the likes of Raphael Saadiq, Carlos Santana and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and has performed on The Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
In 2009, she was named a Unicef ambassador, helping to promote children's right to education around the world. The work she does with Unicef helping those less fortunate continues to be incredibly close to her heart.
Watch this space for a forthcoming NYC show announcement!
Billie-Eve Official Tracklisting:
1. How Many People
2. I'm Gonna Dance
3. Black Spoon
4. I Can't
5. Flowers
6. Real Love
7. Julia
8. My Man
9. It's Too Late
10. Who Are They?
11. We've Got To
12. Before
13. It Hurts
14. Believe
15. I Want You Back
"… an easygoing blend of soul, folk and reggae sensibilities that isn't afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve. Her rich cultural background and Bohemian nature have allowed her to develop into an independent and inventive rising star. The result is a collection of smart, worldly, bittersweet songs." - NPR
"a passionate vocalist who can switch it up between sultry/sexy and saccharine-sweet with consummate ease." - BBC
"Ayo's got a lot of spunk in her sound and a lot of embers burning quietly away." - All Music
About MBM Records:
MBM Records, is a New York City-based music label with offices in Paris, London and Dubai. Founded by Yan Saquet, MBM Records operates under an exclusive distribution agreement with Universal Music Group/Fontana Distribution.
Photo Credit: Rene & Radka / Yann Orhan
Buy CDs, MP3s, more:
MBM Records Official Website
Ayo Official Website
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