Nii Amon

Nii Amon is a musician, songwriter, arranger and producer originally from Ghana, West Africa. He has mastered the Zouk style of music developed and predominantly heard in the East Caribbean, Martinique, Guadeloupe and St. Lucia.

Nadja

When I was very young, my enthusiasm for listening to the neighbor’s garage band play Beatles’ tunes, eventually obligated my grandfather to give me my first guitar (made of blue plastic). He was amazed that I could really perform when the neighbors played. Thus, a musician was born! Although, born in Salvador, a city wherein a plethora of musical rhythms and cultural influences coexist, Bahia is where I had the pleasure of developing my musical talents. Bahia is known as the state that birthed many Brazilian musical superstars.

At fourteen, my musically talented friends and I began participating in several festivals. A sponsor of the 1985 festival gave us an opportunity to record the music we played at the best studio in Salvador (WR). It was our first studio experience and first opportunity to work with such names as Luis Caldas, Alfredo Moura, Carlinhos Brown, Nino, Cezinha, Luizinho Assis, Nestor Madrid, Veve Calazans, Ubaldo, Carlos Quirino, Roberto Aranha, and Raimundo Aranha. This created a strong desire to work “in studio”, and I began composing jingles and songs. As a background vocalist I performed with Virginia Moreira, Claudio Martins, Rachel Aranha, Lula Carvalho, Carlos Pita, Kassia, Ninho Lui, Guga Cavalcanti (Banda Reflexo), Rui Lima, Alex Goes, Kako (Cheiro de Amor) Dera Barbosa, Luzia Santana, Sandro Beker, Rei Zulu, and many more. With some of them, I toured all of the states of Brazil and performed live on the famous “Trio Eletrico” in Bahia’s Carnival.

Salvador being home to some of the most famous Brazilian popular music artists, and Bahia maintaining its rich musical environment, I traveled to the USA to broaden my musical experience. Currently, I live in Southern California, where I perform in a variety of local venues - with a real guitar! Among my recent works is a CD collection of my favorite Brazilian composers.

Lédé

"Lédé is a songwriter and R&B singer who has recorded with Obonu Music from the beginning of her singing career in California. She is currently busy with her original creative writing/video work: "The Morning Buddies/Medical Buddies", which she created to help children deal with their fears of seeing a doctor or dentist. The songs featured in this EP, "LOVE", celebrate love for a Mother, and some BF named Tommy ... but also includes a track about "Issues" that we deal with to make smart choices for a healthy society!"

Angel

Angel is a dynamic peformer who has performed all around the world. This African dancehall version of The Tide is High was arranged by Nii Amon specifically for Angel.

This new version of The Tide Is High EP, featuring Angel on the two vocal tracks and MC Philly Phat Kat on the 3rd rap track, is made up of three tracks: Starting with a straight vocal version, followed by the vocal version with a carnival coda to keep you moving as the song ends and finally MC Philly Phat Kat kicks in with fresh rhymes written with Nii Amon on the 3rd track!

Syonn

Ever since her childhood, music has been her greatest passion. She truly believes that the music is among the most blessing forms of universal communication. The beauty of resonance it creates is the delightful healing that can embrace the earth and the universe.

Through her musical activities, she wishes that her Chi of Love and Gratitude will uplift people's energy so that it will eventually lead to a peaceful and prosperous world.

Rebecca Jade

Rebecca Jade quit her day job and made a great leap of faith to just sing. We are sure glad she did! Rebecca is a very talented Jazz and R&B singer with a wonderful personality to boot. In addition to being part of the house band at Anthology, a jazz club in San Diego, she sings with various acts in town including the female vocal trio, Crush. This is the first of a number of Obonu Music originals performed by Rebecca. In addition, she has added background vocals to a number of Obonu Music tracks for other artists on the label.

The E

The E was put together by Nii Amon and Philly to create fresh music from a collection of poems written by Nii Amon. This style is based on the Spoken Word genre, poetry spoken over instrumental music; ranging from orchestra to percussion. However, the Obonu Music style of Spoken Word adds an extra dimension of vocals arranged by gospel singer Fretrice. Thus, making this approach progressive, captivating and mesmerizing.

Bolga Zohdoomah

Who Inspired Me? My father, a master drummer in my village; Christina Azumah, a Ghanaian pop singer in the band called Upper Internationals during the 1970s; King Sunny Ade; and Alpha Blondy. Growing up in Ghana, I was always surrounded by highlife music. Currently, I am faculty at SDSU, Southwestern College, and I also work as a resident artist in several elementary schools in the South Bay/Imperial Beach.

Gabriela Flores

Gabriela Flores is a native Mexican woman whose passion is to help people get along and grow together in harmony with Nature. She believes art is one of the most effective ways to cross over differences and find a common ground.

Music has been her love since she was a child. Gifted with a natural talent to create with her voice and with an inclination to embrace the color of the world sounds in her repertoire, she performs a variety of styles from jazz to salsa, rock and reggae.

Gloria Espana

Gloria stays very busy between her engineering college classes and professional singing appearances. A few years ago, she has took part in more than five major events and festivals, including performances at a Congress of the Mutualist Organization of the state of Baja California in February and an annual fashion show extravaganza at the Fiesta Americana Hotel in Tijuana in April.

At the Fiesta Americana, the very attentive audience applauded enthusiastically after Gloria's performance of a song called "El Sabra", a ballad from her recording debut release by Obonu Music.

The 12" EP record entitled "Ojos Verdes" was recorded and mixed at Quarzo in San Antonio Del Mar, Baja California, Mexico. Lagsbarrt Mario, the director of the studio introduced Gloria to George Nii Amon Ashie. a record producer from San Diego, California. Gloria's professional attitude and exceptional voice impressed George enough to immediately begin work on the "Ojos Verdes" project.

Reverse LayUP

Straight hip hop put together by the Nii Amon and Philly duo. This duo has been creating hip hop tracks for several years now, including Don't Turn Out the Light? on Nii Amon's CD Dancing for you Life at Makola Market. This first track from Reverse LayUP You Can't Take It with You is all about wealth one accumulates in life.