Toronto 30 years of Pride/ Wellesly stage featuring Ivana Santilli
Ivana Santilli, CP Records first lady of R&B is back with a fresh new sound.
After honing her chops in her father’s wedding band, she burst onto the music scene while still a teenager as a member of the soul/funk group Bass is Base. The outfit released two successful and critically acclaimed albums, the latter with A&M Records, making waves both North and South of the border. Her debut solo release Brown proved equally as successful, showcasing her range as a tri-lingual (English, Italian and French) multi-instrumentalist (vocals, piano and trumpet). More recently, Ivana has been making noise on the charts again with the 70's influenced Been Thru This for which she earned a Juno nomination for best R&B recording.
Freshly signed to successful independent label CP Records, Ivana continues her musical journey exploring her crush on dance floor rhythms & grooves. Her forthcoming album, simply entitled Santilli, is the same Ivana Santilli we know and love, reinvented.
Santilli is a result of her experiences living in Toronto, London, England and New York. “The stories and energy of New York are what put new guts into my songs and what kick-started me writing again. This album is a new start.
On her first single, “Your Girl Tonight”, co-written with label mate Belly and producer Da Heala, her distinctive raspy vocals and the lush electric piano jazz chords remain her signature, but are underscored by a thumping disco beat. Santilli brings us a newer, shinier, spicier Ivana.
Ivana's signature sound is matched by her uncanny fashion sense. She is a timeless stunner; photographed for magazines such as Flare & Elle and regularly on numerous designers’ invite lists during Fashion Week. "Ivana is a special artist. Her sound is unmistakable and her magnetic presence can be felt as soon as she enters a room," says Tony Sal, CEO of CP Records.
Ivana is recognized for her winning musical formula, combining soul bearing lyrics, strikingly beautiful music with high-energy live shows. She continually surprises audiences with her sharp wit and amazing ease with slapstick comedy – an unexpected skill coming from such an accomplished musician – but for Ivana everything starts and ends with the music. For her, music is the heart and soul of her passion, and one to be taken seriously and honoured.
Her respect for the craft has impressed many and has landed her opportunities to collaborate with such heavyweight producers as Dwele, Omar, Dego (4 Hero), King Britt, James Poyser, Mitsu the Beats, Stuart Mathewman (Sade), Nasri & Adam Messinger. She has toured with the likes of The Roots, De La Soul, James Brown, and one her personal favourites, Jamiroquai.
Santilli will be released on CP Records in June 2010.
http://www.ivanasantilli.net/