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Truth & Soul Records is proud to present the debut album from Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos "Beware". Junior Thomas is a songwriter, musician, vocalist, and producer born north of Minneapolis, MN. He developed a sincere devotion to classic Jamaican music at a young age, listening to such artists as Dave Barker, The Bleech- ers, The Wailers, Phyllis Dillon, and Alton Ellis. "I wanted to make a record that was honest and true to the golden era of Jamaican music" says Thomas. After several conversations with reggae producer Brian Dixon, they both realized they were on the same page. Thomas showed up to Dixon's Volcano Lounge studio in Los Angeles a few weeks later ready to record. With Junior Thomas and Brian Dixon as the brainchildren and nucleus of the project, they began assembling the musicians now known as The Volcanos....
The Volcanos are a collective of Southern Californian musicians specializing in Reggae's late 60s early 70s sound. Members of the Volcanos have worked on projects with countless reggae legends, most notably Jimmy Cliff's 2012 Grammy award winning album "Rebirth." Other notable works include The Aggrolites debut "Dirty Reggae" and "The Aggrolites", Hepcat "Push n' Shove" and "Right on Time", Western Standard Time's debut "A Big Band Tribute to the Skatalites" and Tim Armstrong's (Rancid) debut "A Poet Life."
At 17, Nicole was the rst artist signed to Missy Elliot's Goldmind Records. In 1998, her debut single, Make It Hot, would go on to reach certied gold status. Her voice would later lend itself to features and hit singles by Missy Elliott, Camron, Kid Cudi and to The Black Keys' critically acclaimed project, Blackroc. She was then enlisted to lend background vocals on their seventh studio LP, Brothers. The Akron, Ohio duo encouraged Nicole to expand and mature as a vocalist and musician and from this experience rose a Phoenix, rose a Lady.
Lady is Nicole Monique Wray and her band, it is and also the title of her debut album, the latest from Truth & Soul records. She had no idea linking up with producers Leon Michels and Je Silverman (Aloe Blacc, Adele, Jay Z) to write for the latest Lee Fields album would lead to her writing 12 songs for herself and launch a new career with a sound a little like the songs your Mama loved best and at the same time like nothing you've ever heard before.
"Lady" the album, unites the mellowness and pop air of 60s soul with the driving beat of hip-hop, and the silky rhythms of modern R&B. Nicole's powerful voice and Truth & Soul's authentic instrumentation unite to create a fresh sound that would reveal all of her stories of growing up and never giving up, of love and friendship, of yearning and losing, bad girls and good hearts.
Since the release of "Lady" the band has gone on a worldwide tour supporting Lee Fields and The Expressions. They have received accolades and praise from the likes of Essence Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork and Rolling Stone to name a few. Lady will be on their rst headline tour through Europe this fall.
Prepare to take your hat o to Lady. Get ready to fall in love. |
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