Josephine Oniyama at the Music Box
bbc.co.uk
Ashley Thomas (gig: 17/08/06)
Filling the air with charm and wonder, her set was a quick spin
through her new material and a reminder of why she is so good...(more...)
Various – Malastrugança (Celestial Engine)
Chris Long
Manchester’s music is changing. Sure, you’re still likely to see a dozen
Liam-a-likes on every street corner, but listen to the sound of the underground
and new, intriguing things are building up. (more...)
and (more...)
Various – Digital Northerner Vol 3 (Fat Northerner)
bbc.co.uk
Chris Long
It could be the recent explosion in open mic nights, the renaissance
of folk, the rise of MySpace or even that you can get a guitar for less
than 50 quid down the cheap shop, but for some reason, you can’t
move for singer-songwriters these days (more...)
Day 2 @ Truck Festival, Oxford, Sunday 23/07/06
by Louise Birchall 26/07/2006
But a good nights sleep and the first couple of bands seen in the
acoustic tent makes a dull day seem brighter. Especially when
Josephine Oniyama turns out to be so very good. With such
a pretty voice singing over country rhythms and a drummer who
cracks out the slide guitar or xylophone occasionally (more...)
Brighton Festival: Josephine Oniyama, Pavilion Theatre
From the archive, first published Thursday 16th May 2002.
The beauty of festivals, especially as a reviewer, is you sometimes find yourself
at events you would not normally attend.
This was one. The world of indie folk, acoustic soul and modern country
is something of a closed book to me. But Josephine Oniyama was a wonderful revelation.
She is what I would call a jazz singer but she is more than that. In her music is true soul
certainly some country sounds and, best of all, she can write a tune.
The programme notes told me she combines the "catch of Macy Gray with the frailty
of Tracy Chapman", both outside my cultural references.
I would say there is something of Cleo Laine and Billie Holiday in her voice.
She does not yet have their maturity but she is heading towards their league.
And that catch in her voice? It breaks your heart.
This is a voice to haunt you forever and it is only going to get better and better.
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