“I Am Love” is the new single from Washington DC-based vocalist and songwriter Cecily (ses-suh-lee). Known for her agile soprano and honest lyrics, the single is the first track taken from her upcoming project “Awakening Pt. 2” which was inspired by the text All About Love by bell hooks. The track specifically focusses on the importance of affirmations, as discussed in the text, with the heart – and title – from the track rooted in the power of reminding yourself: “I Am Love”.

Echoing the romantic sensibilities of 1970s soul artists with a fresh twist, “I Am Love” effortlessly exists at the intersection of Jazz and Soul, highlighted by an easy groove and thoughtful harmonies. Co-written alongside Jacob Ungerleider, the melody of the track grew from a chord progression inspired by Cecily’s listening to Blossom Dearie and Dionne Warwick, which felt like a natural pairing to the affirming poem she had crafted through daily journals. The track pays tribute to its poetic beginnings with emphasis on imagery around love as depicted through the natural world and colors; “green for the heart chakra and rose, as in a rose quartz, which is the crystal used to cultivate love energy.”

“Awakening Pt. 2” explores unconditional love and its transformative power. Going beyond the romantic, Cecily dives into what hooks called a Love Ethic and examines how love can grow in each part of our loves
and in society through familial love, self-love, divine love, and love of Mother Nature. “bell hooks said, “All awakening to love is spiritual awakening” and that’s how I felt when I wrote these songs and more broadly in my journey to awakening to love.” In crafting a thematic album Cecily pays extra attention to the individual identities and styles of each track. Working with the likes of Jenna Camille, Muhsinah, Allyn Johnson, Zachary Cutler and Jacob Ungerleider, the LP travels through the realms of Jazz, Soul and R&B with tenderness and musician precision.

Growing up surrounded by her parents’ vast record collection – her father, a lover of Miles Davis, and her mother, a Smokey Robinson fan – Cecily developed a love of singing and an appreciation for the connection
she had to music from a young age, taking classical voice lessons from the age of thirteen. Through this upbringing and her own focus on poetry, her work is fueled with a unique sensuality that informs not only her vocal approach, but also her self-reflecting lyrics, grappling with self-acceptance, vulnerability, and rebirth. With a degree in Political Science and Black Studies, and an understanding of how disillusioned politics can make people feel, Cecily works to bring purpose and power to her music and people’s lives. Over her career, she has done just that by making a commitment to create work that celebrates vulnerability as a strength, unconditional love as a grounding principle, and joy as an innate human right.

Hi, all! My name is Taleah and I am a soul/alternative R&b singer/songwriter, dancer/choreographer, actress, model, Youtube and blogger born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in New Castle, DE. I started singing in church at the age of five, much like my vocal idol, the late great Whitney Houston. From there I went on to participate in several pageants, talent shows, plays, musical productions, and more. I was your typical jazz hands kid :) As time went on, I actually took a step back from my entertainment endeavors to focus on my education. I hold two degrees from Swarthmore College in Economics and Spanish (yes, I'm fluent!), and I graduated in 2010. 

Two days before my birthday, I released a song entitled "All The Things" which chronicles a personal experience of mine where I felt pressure to conform to an environment in which I, honestly, did not belong. Through song, I hope to explain to others that you are not alone in sometimes feeling lost or like you're not like everyone else, and that the most important thing will always be to stay true to yourself. 

I describe my sound as soulful and impactful, with an emphasis on singing as an art. I am most heavily influenced by the great female power vocalists of yesterday and today, as well as those who have carved out their own path in music (genre and other wise) as I aim to do the same. Artists who envelop those qualities include Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, Patti Labelle, Prince, Janelle Monae, Miguel, Pharell, Jhene Aiko, Celia Cruz, Selena, and many more. I hope you come along on my musical journey, and that you enjoy the ride! <3 

Subscribe <a href="http://iamkelis.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> to get Kelis news first.

Multi Genre Music Production for the Soul

Taleah is following