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Your New Music Army

July 30, 2000
MuzikWorld.com wants to promote you through MP3.com's "New Music Army" (NMA). Contact editor@muzikworld.com regarding MP3.com promotions. New NMA artists this month include Ghana's highly proclaimed reggae artist, Rocky Dawuni and Jasmine Dion, a 19 year old singer/songwriter from Saskatchewan, Canada. Here's a little more about these great artists:

Rocky Dawuni
MP3 radio play: Lo Fi Hi Fi

Rocky Dawuni burst on to the African reggae scene in the early 90's as the lead singer of the Ghanaian reggae group, Local Crisis, at the Pan African Music Festival held in the West African country's capital of Accra. In their debut performance, Dawuni's mesmerizing stage presence and powerful songs secured the group hero status and were a welcome infusion to the already flourishing environs that boast the likes of Alpha Blondy and Lucky Dube.

Although Dawuni soon developed a following in his beloved, native Ghana, he decided to leave for the United States and pursue his musical horizons. Over the next few years, Rocky spent time writing and recording, while being exposed to the many diverse forms of music abroad as well as under-studying the music business itself.

In 1996, Rocky Dawuni released his debut recording, The Movement, one of the most anticipated reggae albums in West Africa. The artists' introspective journey into social and spiritual consciousness garnered rave reviews in the Ghanaian press and spawned two hit singles, with both "Sugar" and "What Goes Around" obtaining massive Ghanaian airplay. The intense media exposure led to a full page write up in New Nation, one of England's most influential weeklies, where Rocky was touted as "Ghana's Bob Marley."

In the U.S., The Movement received critical acclaim and glowing praise. The Beat described Dawuni's freshman effort as a "thoughtful, spiritual and involved debut recording." Urb Magazine, one of the most popular underground publications in the U.S., named Rocky Dawuni one of the "Next 100 People to Watch in the Entertainment Industry."

Mesa/Bluemoon Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records, licensed "What Goes Around" and its' video for release throughout the U.S. on Strictly Underground: Reggae's Next Generation, propelling the video to climb to #3 on the Reggae Video Charts in January 1997 and introducing Rocky's music to U.S. reggae radio.

In spring 1998, Aquarian Records / Who Dun It Records released Rocky's sophomore effort, Crusade, written, arranged and produced by Rocky Dawuni. The album is a sprawling philosophical journey into rhythm and soul with songs of pain, spirituality, love, revolution and redemption. From the nyabinghi tinged tropical jam, "Sweet Bright Day," which Dawuni describes as "an invocationof the perfect day when all elements fall into place in our lives," to a hauntingly powerful piece entitled, "Conqueror," which highlights a traditional African kora player, Crusade is Dawuni's musical and spiritual war promoting love, justice and righteousness. "It's about hope in the human spirit and allowing God to empower us to attain the unattainable."

Crusade's first single, "In Ghana," has already achieved international hit status on both radio and TV with the tune's arresting video. Inspired by Ghana's 40th Anniversary Celebrations, Dawuni describes the song "as a celebration of 40 years of independence...as the first black African country to attain independence, it's a personal ode to the individual's continuing search for freedom." Putumayo World Music subsequently licensed "In Ghana" for their Reggae Around the World compilation CD that also includes tracks from Lucky Dube, Burning Spear and Majek Fashek. "In Ghana" was recently voted "Reggae Song of the Year" at the Ghana Music Awards 2000.

The July '98 release of Crusade was, and continues to be, enormously successful, with tremendous media coverage throughout the African continent. In the spring of 1999, Rocky began a summer festival tour of the U.S., which culminated with a knockout live performance at the Vermont Reggae Festival to a capacity crowd of 35,000. Rocky also put in extraordinary performances at the UCLA Jazz/Reggae Festival and Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, establishing himself as one of the premier live reggae artists.

In the U.S., Crusade has received rave reviews from all corners including a four-and-a-half-star review from Reggae Report. Influential Dub Missive touts "from beginning to end, it scores a direct hit."

Dawuni has also received intense radio support for the album in the U.S. and Jamaica, as well as on the BBC, National Public Radio ("The World") and Voice of America, leading to his inclusion in the prestigious WOMAD USA 2000 concert festival and this year's annual REGGAE ON THE RIVER extravaganza.
Rocky Dawuni has recently attracted the attention of alternative publications with his new "Roots Hop Reggae" which is the inclusion of a turntablist (DJ) in his powerful live sets. Publications including No Cover, CM 101 and Slamm have done extensive features and interviews with Rocky.

Crusade firmly establishes Rocky Dawuni as a crucial addition to the current Roots Reggae revitalization. Reports from as far off as Madagascar indicate that a Rocky revolution is brewing and, like the opening track proclaims, Crusade goes right to where it should, "Inside Your Head."

Jasmine Dion
MP3 radio play: Lo Fi Hi Fi

Jasmine Dion loves to communicate through her music that beauty is something that needs to be seen and not taken for granted. This Saskatoon, Saskatchewan artist has enjoyed singing and playing music ever since she was very little. At 12 years of age, she started composing.

Because of her determination she taught herself to play music by ear on the piano, the acoustic guitar and the synthesizer. Jasmine’s strong vocal presence is enhanced by her vibrant touch on the piano. Her musical versatility is really evident when she shifts to her guitar. She writes or co-writes all of her songs. Music, which is an important part of her life, is her source of

inspiration, relaxation and fulfillment. Although she has recorded only in English, Jasmine also sings in French. In fact, she competed provincially in [Le Gala Fransaskois de la Chanson] in 1997 and in 1998. Jasmine’s first full CD, “Beautiful”, demonstrates the positive side of life and expresses many moods and emotions often inspired by spirituality. On her album, she plays piano, acoustic guitar, all synthesizers, as well as doing vocals.

Read more about Jasmine Dion at www.jasminedion.com.

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