CD, Cry Love | 07 Aug 2012
What's Your Sign? I Have Your Number!
If you have not heard the ever-delicious and delightfully soulful sounds of Singer Maya Azucena yet, this was an hour you will definitely want to listen back to!
Sharita was absolutely honored to have Maya join her for this show that explored from above, just why Maya is here in this incarnation bringing healing, light and joy to the entire globe through her innovative and spirit-stirring music down here below. The planets above indeed do declare she is an original and stellar Star that you will continue to watch shine like the sun with an everlasting love upon this EARTH; for everything beyond her music equally and truly comes from Maya's HEART.
As we discussed Maya's birth name through it's name expression and Lexigrams -the poetic phrasing of the anagrams that can be derived from within it- we find one more validation of how a person's story in life is also all within a name.
MAYA AZUCENA NEWTON
MY MY MY, MAYA A WOMAN TO EMANATE ONE UNCANNY WAY TO ANNOUNCE AN AMAZE
MAYA MEANT TO OWN MANY TUNE, NOTE & TONE
MAYA MEANT TO OWN MANY AMOUNT O’ TON O’ MONEY NOTE & TONE.
MAYA A MANY TUNE MONEY ANTENNA
MAYA MEANT TO AMAZE ANYONE TO A MEATY NOTE & TONE ZONE
MAYA MEANT TO AMAZE MANY A WOMAN MANNA
MAYA ON MANY A WOMEN TO WOMEN TEAM TO AMAZE; ON MANY A TEAM TO AMAZE
MAYA CAME ON A COMET WAY TO AMAZE ANYONE
ONCE MAYA ANNOUNCE AN OWN, MAYA NOW WON ANY MOMENT MAYA WANT
WE CAN COUNT ON A MANY MANY WAY MAYA CAME TO AMAZE ANYONE
About Maya Azucena:
Maya Azucena inhabits a musical world of her own creation. Whether performing before an audience of thousands or writing in solitude, she transcends genres and trends. Her progressive yet accessible style is shaped by an expansive vision that unites genres. With Maya Azucena, the worlds of hip hop, soul, jazz, reggae, electronica and pop join forces. Like Lauryn Hill, Corinne Bailey Rae, or Gnarls Barkley, she embodies a singular and finely honed artistry through a combination of profound lyrics, soaring melodies, and irresistible rhythms.
Cry Love is the artistic statement that Maya Azucena has sought to make since day one. The Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter’s impressive versatility unfolds over ten original compositions plus a dramatic interpretation of “Little Ghetto Boy.” Executive-produced with her longtime collaborator Christian Ver Halen, and released on her new imprint label, Azucena Songs, Cry Love represents a powerful journey that distills the universal themes of love, survival, and hope into 50 unforgettable minutes.
Maya Azucena emerged as a captivating presence on the landscape of popular music following her self-released debut Maya Who?! and the critically acclaimed Junkyard Jewel. Billboard, The Village Voice and The Washington Post have all heralded her mesmerizing performances in the U.S. while her music’s been featured on HBO (The Wire), NBC (30 Rock), and in advertisements for Verizon Wireless and Ford Motors. Her work with Stephen Marley netted a “Best Reggae Album” Grammy and her vocal contributions to an album by Croatian superstar Gibonni garnered two Porin Awards (the top music award in Croatia). As both an in-demand concert attraction and a Cultural Ambassador for the U.S., she’s enthralled audiences in places as far-ranging as Honduras, China, Tanzania, Italy, Myanmar, and Slovenia.
It is for those listeners and countless more that Maya Azucena has crafted Cry Love. An anthem for justice, the title track, produced by Pete Miser, is steeped in Maya’s concern for humankind and constitutes the album’s core concept. Her desire to inspire, empower, and embolden listeners saturates both the edgy groove of “Warriors” and the sanguine sway of “Near,” as well as her gripping duet with distinguished singer/pianist Chris Robon the Donny Hathaway classic, “Little Ghetto Boy.” Taking a page from Maya’s own life, “The Half” is a harrowing tale propelled by no less a rock legend than guitarist Vernon Reid. Emerging triumphant from near tragedy, she invites dancehall icon iNi Kamoze aboard for a victory lap on “My Back’s Not Up Against the Wall” while the glistening, acoustic qualities of “Belong to the Sun” furnish another standout cut. The songs are all unified by a remarkable depth and stunning musicality. ®2012
[Click Here to Listen]