Music by Madison feat. Somaye
Based on a Persian classic

Break My Soul Ft Somaye By Madison

Just a few lines I came up with to the classic But Not For Me dedicated to the Mark Duggan Family. Very rough and ready recording 

But Not For Me (For Mark Duggan)

A love poem written and read by Somaye
www.somaye.info

Confession

Preview of my new Album out NOW!
Download or order your CD's at https://www.somaye.info
Somaye: Vocals (and piano on No-one Ever Tells You)
Andrew Mills: Piano (except for No-one Ever Tells You)
Music on Welcome To A Hum by Slovo www.randallmusic.net Remixed by Somaye
Translation of Li Beirut by Tarek by Tarek Chemaly
Preview mixed by Somaye

Hamra Spring Preview

A version of the classic, Strange Fruit for our times

Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday

A poem for Jo Cox MP who was brutally assassinated last week. Today would have been her 42nd birthday #MoreInCommon #JoCoxRIP

More In Common

My poem called I Am An Immigrant

I am an immigrant
I am every musical instrument
Every mathematical equivalent 
From the essential chemical element
To every science experiment
I am an immigrant

I am a continental compliment
A fundamental sentiment
A French kiss, slipping from your lips
Enchanté, you get the gist?

I am that je ne sais quois
That joie de vivre
That bon apetit
That croissant you eat

I am those chips that goes with your fish
That very English, oh sorry Jewish dish
That Danish pastry
That makes life so tasty
That sweet little raisin
Hallelujah, that Lord you're praisin'
 
The pyjamas you wear
The blonde in your hair
The khaki colour of your combat trousers
Wowzers, awesome, wassup?
I am the tea and your china cup
That Sugar so sweet
In everything you eat
Coffee from the Arabic street

Cappuccino Italiano
Pizza Americano
Classical piano
Salsa and tango

From the hollywood movie
To the bollywood groovie
That beautiful smoothie
So fresh and so soothing

Your Greek democracy
Your German aristocracy
Your whole philosophy
Based on Chinese meritocracy

From blues to that reggae song 
The Latin roots of your mother tongue
I could go on and on
Till the break of dawn

So when you bang your racist drum
Remember Africa is where I'm from
So don't be so ignorant
I am an immigrant

by Somaye

https://www.somaye.info

I Am An Immigrant

A sound installation I produced for Amnesty International's Brave campaign.

Brave Sound Installation

I Am An Immigrant poem by Somaye played with the tombak

I Am An Immigrant remix

A song about a refugee child which originally appeared in the podcast We Are All Refugees by Somaye about the refugee crisis in Europe: https://www.mixcloud.com/applesandsnakes/we-are-all-refugees-home-cooking/
This is a version of Wade in The Water/Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Chile which as pointed out in one review was an anti-slavery song. However it was also a song that was used by civil rights activists in their struggles in the 1960s. In other words it is an anti-racism song with a rich history. It is this and the current racism against refugees that I had in mind when I mixed it with the title track of the podcast, We Are All Refugees.

We Are All Refugees

With a voice that has been known to bring audiences to tears and extraordinary versatility on the tombak (Persian drum), Somaye’s music represents the fresh sound of the Iranian Diaspora, fusing East and West.  Her powerful and emotive voice which conveys the spirit and meaning of the songs of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone like no other is complemented by the heartfelt poetry penned by herself.

Somaye's unique arrangements of jazz standards on the tombak create a captivating sound that can only emerge from London's cultural melting pot and as a skilled producer her soulful voice blends seamlessly with the beautiful instruments of the East to create unique soundscapes that stand out within London’s urban musical jungle.

Born to Iranian parents in London, Somaye spent three years living in Iran before fleeing and returning to London.   She found solace in music and initially trained on the piano before discovering her true talent as a singer. She pursued her passion for music by studying and gaining a BA Hons in Music and MA in Ethnomusicology.  She returned to her Iranian roots by learning to play the tombak.  Her musical blend is the expression of a life torn between two cultures.   

Somaye

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