Adaeze

Been a while since I’ve been anywhere. I could put the blame on this. However I chose to blow off some steam and catch gospel/hip-hop artiste Adaeze’s concert at Champions Sport’s Bar. Yeah, where dum iz hol’ Floetry Fridays. I was excited to see what was in store from the colorful lighting set on the stage, merch table by the door and the buzzing crowd just lounging waiting on the show to start. I was however disappointed that the bartender intended that I was to enjoy this performance with a dry mout’.

See Also: Adaeze live at the ‘One Love’ concert (Video)

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Backed by a live band, Kas Taylor led off the night’s proceedings with ‘Be Alright‘ and an awesome acoustic version of ‘Savile Row‘. Adaeze hopped right on and without missing a beat the band went straight into her first song she dedicated to her mother. She followed with ‘Dae dream’ and another dedication to the guy that got her into rapping. The diminutive rapper removed her pink blazer mid performance to reveal her all white ensemble. ‘Kanye-esque’, if I do say so myself.

Oh yeah, I finally got a drink.

Camille’s passion,emotion, and energy showed through ‘War’,’Real Life Music’ & ‘Battle Cry’ respectively. The multi-talented Larix, on the bass, joined her in a rendition of a song by Mali music. She then kept up the mellow mood with a cover of ‘Let freedom reign‘ by Chrisette Michelle. The tempo picked back up with a freestyle over Chance The Rapper’s ‘Favorite Song‘.

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Coming to the end of the show, Nicovia and Adaeze gave an amazing rendition of Chrisette Michelle’s ‘Fragile’. This was followed up by the final selection, the concert’s name sake and her latest single, ‘One Love’. Makonem joined her on stage to cap off an entertaining night with the catchy track.

All in all a great performance from those involved. From the band to the backing singers, it was simply an amazing show and I look forward to great things in the future for Ms.Adaeze. One love. - 246 Mixtapes

There’s a remix of John King’s 1996 ‘How many more?’ track and it’s featuring 26-year old Adaeze.

The rapper, spoken word artist has put her stamp on the track and taken it’s perspective global with lyrics like ‘Black lives matter but to who?’ and ‘This melanin is magic’ playing on the hashtags #BlackLivesMatter and #BlackGirlMagic.

So how did this collaboration come about?

Adaeze said:

“John and I crossed paths in 2012, but never worked together till this year. We were performing on the same show and really hit it off. After the shooting deaths of Alton Sterling and then the very next day, the shooting of Philando Castile, I felt a strong urge to write something.... In the whirlwind of those days following those two shootings, I got the sense that people were at the height of their frustration. I definitely was. I hoped that I could put in song some words to bring clarity, healing or empowerment - first for myself, and then for others.

“Then my brother posted the original song to his page at that time and it just clicked - I always wanted to do a remix of the song. I assembled a team including some of Bim's best musicians and vocalists and David Graham did the production.”
King said that for him the fact that the home situation now is ”unfortunately” reflecting the lyrics penned some 20 years ago spurred him on to say ‘yes’, plus with a chuckle he added, “It doesn’t take much to motivate me to do music, that is my life, especially when you get a chance to work with young and incredible artistes like Adaeze and the others who worked on the thing. That is a real blessing in disguise. So far me it was just a matter of how soon can we get this done and go.”

Making the magic was no big deal to the duo. Adaeze said that because of the relationship she had developed with John, she felt really comfortable approaching him with the idea and his response was immediately favorable.

“I was really impressed by his humility - any artist would tell you that it's not always easy to collaborate. For him to be so open to the process and be so involved says a lot about his character and I gained even more respect for him,” said Adaeze.
King was very exuberant. He explained that having younger voices who young people can relate to could get the message across in a more powerful way.

Out the blocks for less than 24 hours, they are both being blown away by the response they are receiving.

The young rapper said that “So far the response is all positive which is a real blessing. I went into the project cognizant of the fact that ‘How Many More’ is a Bajan classic and I wanted to do the song justice. The fact that people appreciate it from the production, to the lyrics to John's appearance on the track as opposed to a sample, is a real honour. I'm grateful."

King echoed this saying, “The response has just been awesome, everybody that I have sent it to loves it, and again it is doing well for Adaeze too because a lot of people don’t know who she is but they are being totally blown away by her, so that is important also.”
Asked how she felt penning her verses; “Honestly, at first I felt a lot of pressure - self-imposed of course! I just wanted to hit on as many issues as I could. I wrote it in the studio as John laid down his vocals, and I think it hit me what was happening - somehow I found my way in the presence of someone I grew up listening to. That lifted the pressure and I was able to just enjoy the energy in the room.”

Released on YouTube just yesterday and having received 142 views and 18 likes to date, both artistes have high hopes that the lyrics and track do not fall on deaf ears.

Adaeze said: “I could have combined any number of different words and John could have chosen various melodies - all those things are variables. What makes the song special is the heart of it - the fact that a desire for self-love, black love, peace and empowerment, could bring two people from different generations together. Love is a powerful force and hopefully, in this case, an inspiring one.”

While King added, “I hope that one that our young people who are so influenced by a culture that is not ours would realise that this violence, these guns, that was never one of our vices and it should never be one of our vices. The Caribbean has always been seen as the no problem, peaceful, friendly people and that inherently is who we are, all this shooting, all these guns, all this nonsense is foreign to who we are, so we need to get back to being ourselves… I need our young people to understand."
Adaeze approached King on July 7 and it took about 2 weeks to record everyone.

The 'How many more?' remix was written by John King and Adaeze, executive produced by Adaeze, produced and engineered by David Graham of Audiation Studios, Guitar is Xavier Jhonclair, Organ by "Big Steve", Bass by Damien Neblett and background vocals were Larix, Du-Wayne Hinds, Nicovia, Faith Callender, Alicia Yarde-Collins, Quissa Baptiste and Alix Cage. - Loop Barbados

Don’t let Adaeze’s pretty face fool you.

That face is similar to the calm before the storm. Get ready for her because she is getting set to cause some trouble. She is one of Barbados’ up and coming hip hop/spoken word artists.


“i like doing it, that is where i feel at home, feel like i have purpose, i feel like i have something to say and that i can say it differently. nothing else inspires me the same way so why not music?”

When the Barbados TODAY team arrived at her Ealing Park, Christ Church home this morning she was busy packing for her travels tomorrow. Twenty–three years ago, Camille Evelyn came into this world to an Antiguan mother and Barbadian father.

Little did they know that after moving to Antigua for a term, then back to Barbados, attending Harrison College later at 16 years old earning a scholarship to represent the school for two years in Norway to study at the United World College then at 18 moving to Florida to study English for four years that she would give that all up after one year to pursue her dream in the arts.

Like any other parents, they were not pleased about their daughter’s decision but the musical talent insisted this was something she had to do.

“It was one of those ‘I have to do this for me’ type decisions, my parents weren’t happy because obviously I have a good brain [and] they think that I wasted the education, because I left the education without finishing. I can see where they are coming from but I really, really had that urge that I had to go.

“It was something that I delayed on for really long. I wanted to leave before that but I wanted to make my parents happy so I tried doing it. But when I finally decided to go, it was a very strong urge and since leaving a lot has happened and I don’t regret it.

“I like doing it, that is where I feel at home, feel like I have purpose, I feel like I have something to say and that I can say it differently. Nothing else inspires me the same way so why not music?” the petite lass asked.

While attending college in Florida she was just walking on the campus one day when someone handed her a flyer for a poetry workshop by a Def Jam poet hosted by an on–campus group called Poet’s Inc. Knowing much about or being interested in spoken word at the time, she decided “What the heck, it couldn’t hurt!” so she attended.


Adaeze performing at the Ball of Life.

“I just went and that was it,” she said as a broad smile unfolded on her face. “I found out what it was, I liked it, I performed and then the poet people invited me to an event. Then after that, every time there was an event people would call me to perform. I started to perform around Orlando and began to get a name for myself in poetry.”

Last January she left school for good and finally decided to explore music on a full–time basis. In Florida she produced an EP for an artist and produced another for one in Orlando. She won Best Poet of the Year for the 352 region, was nominated for Lyricist of the Year and Best Female Poet of the Year in Orlando.

Upon returning to Barbados about four months ago she was introduced to Mahalia’s Corner, one of the few avenue which young talent could be showcased. She liked it so much that she was even featured on the line–up where she performed poetry as well as a few fused hip hop and spoken word pieces.

Adaeze also performed at Iron Mic, Miss Big & Beautiful Pageant and opened for American Grammy award winner Chrisette Michele at the Ball of Life held here on the island. There she remixed one of Michele’s songs Let Freedom Reign, as well as amazing the crowd she received a standing ovation from the singer herself, who had a fractured ankle at time, and her parents.

“It was a good experience, I had a lot of fun … her parents were like she really enjoy – it was kind of surprising. While I know that people appreciate the stuff it took me by surprise when people actually know the lyrics to what you are singing.

“When I was doing the spoken word in Florida and travelling I realised how much it was affecting people. At first I took it for granted because I didn’t really know that I was good at it but then you see people coming up to you and saying x,y,z. So I just felt like it was something I needed to push.”

Though she doesn’t have any recorded tracks, the public is loving her live performances of People Like Punching Bag, Might As Well Fall In, I Said It, This Is The One (better known as Yes Yes You Heard Heard Me Twice Twice). The artist has many plans for the future, her immediate is to get on the international stage as a Hip hop artist because there are none representing for Barbados and to relay some of the knowledge she gained in her travels to young artists here to help with their development.

“I just really want to open up more doors for Barbadian artists because I feel like they’re exploited, I think because they are appreciated around Crop–Over time and then other than that there is really nothing for them to do. They aren’t enough performance opportunities and if it is something you are trying to live by there is definitely not enough for an artist to do. Hopefully by being my best it would open up more doors for people,” she said. - Barbados Today

ADAEZE DREAMS OF LOVE. Her creative mind weaves tales of acceptance – whether for physical challenges or personal taste. The hip hop artiste’s hopes for a better world have inspired her work, baptized in easily relatable Christian-driven messages geared to a largely young, urban audience without being too “preachy”. However, she confessed that many churches or Christian radio stations in Barbados were not playing her music. “And the way churches are structured in Barbados, I probably would not be invited to perform at many churches, but that is not my fault,” Adaeze, christened Camille Evelyn said in a frank interview with WEEKEND BUZZ. “I think that what I am singing is for every audience, including a Christian audience, especially since everything I say comes from that view. “I try not to let it upset me, but it does. I feel like God is big and [He] uses people in different ways, and everyone is going towards the same thing . . . I feel like the way I say and deliver things might be a little different from Glory To The Lamb, but it is the same message.” However, she was not out to change anyone’s beliefs just so she could be included. “I wouldn’t want to force the church to do anything. If your beliefs are what it is, I think you should stick by it, so they are not obligated to try to include me. I think God is gonna use whoever, and everything will all work out in the end . . .” But anyone slightly familiar with the Daedream knows the artiste will keep her head to the sky: “Gospel means to bring good news, and I am bringing good news,” she wittily replied. Her latest message of inspiration comes with One Love, a song released in January. Despite releasing music in the past (Daedream, This Is The One, I Ain’t Trippin’) this was Adaeze’s true debut. “I have put out a lot of music, but in terms of something that says this is who I am, this will be the first one.” The single has been getting good rotation on a local radio station and steady hits and good buzz on YouTube, and other social media platforms. It may look like an album is in the horizon, but Adaeze says she is still experimenting with her music. “There is always a battle between how commercial to be and how completely out of the box to be, or not . . . That is just an extension of personal development and being yourself and that would transmit into the music.” Adaeze will showcase her skills tonight at Champion Sports bar. Rocking the local scene for the over a year, also turns heads for her distinctive style of dress. No doubt a popular question at interviews, Adaeze told WEEKEND BUZZ the fashion sense, reminiscent of the June Ambrose’s colour palette and the coolness of Janelle Monae, drew both admiration and questions. “I was walking through town and I put on headphones because I didn’t want to hear people. On a good day I can bear it, but sometimes it can be so irritating when people can pretend to know something about your morality, intelligence, sexuality or anything about you,” the former Harrisonian revealed. “I have heard a lot and that includes people who are close to me.” But she admitted that many of her clothing choices were not worth the analysis it received. The youngest of three children, the first time Adaeze bought clothes was as a student of the University of Florida. “I needed clothes and I just got creative with what I had,” she said. “But if I were to get into it, I would say I mix urban with formal, or strange colours you don’t expect, because to me it is like writing or song or making a beat – you just try to find a different way to do it. To me, it is all art.” - See more at: http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/20606/musical-daedreams#sthash.MpOt6iFV.dpuf - Nation Newspaper