Soul Muzik has announced plans to release Darey Art Alade’s album in the United States of America.
Coming barely six months after the release of his second album “Un.DAREY.ted”, the announcement came as a surprise to many who have followed the singer’s remarkable career.
‘This is all I’ve worked on since March. Apart from promoting my album and playing gigs, all I’ve done is work, work and work. And I’m excited, not just because of the prospects I see for me and my label, but for the entire industry. They’ve got to stop underrating us. We’ve got loads and loads of talent over here; and its time we make the world realize that’’, Darey told journalists in Lagos early this week.
At a time when every one expected he would be getting comfortable and resting on his oars, the enterprising musician will not relent in his continuous efforts in further building his already flourishing career. As if setting up a full studio is not enough, Darey ventured on a journey to seek talented and promising Nigerian producers Cobhams, Ayodele Basil,Patrick Matthias and together, they joined hands with Memphis based Grammy nominated producer Kurt Clayton popularly known as KC to work on Darey’s US album.
Well armored with brilliant R&B songs, Darey caught the attention of founder of the 1975 established Solar records (Sound of Los Angeles records) Dick Griffey, who also chairs Soul Muzik.
‘Darey is a talented artiste, when I first saw him on TV, I was impressed, what we are doing with Darey is to play a kind of music that is international, and there is no doubt that he can appeal to the international market. Most importantly, I have heard Darey’s music, I like it, and we are working with first class writers and producers’ Dick Griffey says.
Following the release of his first single “Not the Girl” eight months ago, Darey immediately became a regular name on awards nomination list inside and outside the country. He got thumbs up from experts, critics and skeptics in the Nigerian music scene who initially thought that his exit from Storm records in 2007 was a risky move.
Two years after leaving Storm, he made a mellow, yet powerful re-entrance into the Nigerian music scene and his single “Not the girl” became an unstoppable hit. His album which was released on March 31, 2009 earned him critical respect, and the critics and the Nigerian media unanimously tagged him “King of R&B in Nigeria”
Reviewing un.DAREY.ted, Nigerianhiphop.net says- “Un.DAREY.ted is an album with a lot of soulful tunes, and definitely re-enforces Darey image in the Nigerian music scene as an R&B maestro”
An impressed writer at Punch newspaper wrote- ‘with near excellent songwriting, brilliant production, on point delivery and carefully selected themes, Un.DAREY.ted makes a lot of LP look like fast food’
While 234 next states that “Underrating Darey will definitely be dangerous as he shows himself true to his passion- making good music.
To Guardian newspapers, “Darey is growing steady as one of the best singers on the African continent”
According to the Sun Newspaper “Darey has not only established himself as a singer, he is a full musician, he performs with a live band, and he does it well”
Fresh from a wonderful performance at the Hiphopworld awards in May which was adjudged the ‘Best performance of the night’; Darey went on to host at the SMVAs where he won in the category of ‘Best R&B Pop video’. And with a Channel O nomination for “Most gifted male video” and “Most gifted R&B video” Darey sure has the acceptance he deserves, and he is definitely leaving no stones unturned in making this remarkable twist in his career.
Darey was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria by Olapeju Art Alade and Art Alade. He is one of five children. Darey got his first job as an OAP in 1998, when during a performance at B jez nite club; Victoria Island a member of Cool FM management saw potentials in him and invited him to the radio station.
“The Nigerian album- “Un.DAREY.ted” has achieved its aim, the album was released on March 31 2009, and already we have nominations inside and outside the country in the R&B genre, now is the time to move on’ his manager Solomon Shonaiya says on a final note.
Relevant websites:
www.dareyonline.com
www.facebook.com/dareartalade
www.soulmuzik.net
QUICK FACTS
• The American release WILL NOT be titled Un.DAREY.ted
• Producers that have worked on the project so far are Cobhams, Ayodele Basil, Patrick Matthias AND Kurt Clayton
• The US album will contain some reworked songs from Un.DAREY.ted
• The project is under the full auspices of Soul Muzik, a Nigerian label with twigs in Lagos, Abuja, South Africa and the United States
• All songs so far have been produced at Soul Muzik studios in Abuja and in the US
• A final video from Un.DAREY.ted titled ‘let u know’, will drop in a matter of days. A VCD release will follow, before a date will be announced for the US release.
The Un.DAREY.ted LP, which is a precursor for the US album, is up for two awards at the upcoming Channel O music video awards. (see www.channelo.co.za for further details
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