Alternative singer releases album, 'My Fairy Tales'

jonathan

March 5, 2015 9:06 AM

Known for speaking her mind in her music, ‘My Fairy Tales’ tackles subjects as varied as the politics of her birthplace in the Niger Delta through to her own personal voyage of discovery.

Best known for her 2008 UK top-twenty hit ‘Heartbeat’ (also sampled on Rita Ora’s ‘R.I.P’) and winner of Best African Act at the MOBOs in 2009, Nigerian-German singer Nneka releases her a special project, ‘My Fairy Tales’, focusing on her roots and Afrobeat side to kick off 2015.

The album’s opening number, ‘Believe System’ speaks of the need to connect with your roots, with Nneka’s expressive vocals placing her among global songstresses like Neneh Cherry, Erika Badu, Lauren Hill and similar.

Second track ‘Babylon’ tells of regional plight in West Africa over a Fela type afrobeat / highlife groove.

Next is the first single from the album ‘My Love My Love’, with its lilting reggae beat and personable lyrics about positive love.

Other key tracks on the album include ‘Local Champion’, about her hometown of Warri / Nigeria, the optimistic and spiritual track 'Surprise' and the ska influenced ‘Pray For You’ in which Nneka speaks of the healing powers of forgiveness.

Bringing the album to a close is ‘Book of Job’, with its highly effective group chorus vocal and finally ‘In Me’ – two excellent reggae cuts.

‘My Fairy Tales’ sees Nneka with a new confidence and maturity in both her songwriting and performance. All this from a career that has seen her collaborate with the likes of Massive Attack, Lenny Kravitz, Tricky, Ziggy Marley, and more.

She toured the States in 2010 alongside Nas and Damian Marley (as Distant Relatives) after an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman earlier that year and has also have records remixed by Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard and Chase & Status.

jonathan