Afi Soul
Boston, Massachusetts, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
What are folks
saying about Afi?
As a fan of '60s-'70s soul-from Sly Stone to Johnnie Taylor-Afi's nu-soul "Same Ole" has familiar flavor that begs listening yet a modern cadence that reminds it is, as the lyrics say, a "different day."
Maria Villafana, washingtonpost.com/MP3
The final act of the night was Afi, a soul singer with a beautiful voice and equally beautiful spirit and stage presence. Keep an eye out for her performances and try and check her out-you will not be disappointed."
Kelly Connelly, Music Monthly
Afi's got soul... There 's a whole lot of soul going
on these days, and Afi is offering up her own dose.
Editorial Staff, Sister 2 Sister Magazine
Anyone who attended...witnessed a standout performance by DC's own Afi; a true soulstar on the rise.
Imani Akram Gibbons,
ManaleVision/Momi B. Fly Productions
- Many
Afi - Lovely
Click on CD cover
to listen or purchase
Washington, D.C.'s own Afi (pronounced "ah-fee") is truly a renaissance woman. After giving birth to three baby girls (Serwah, Soyini & Makeda), Afi had to shift the focus for several years from her music to her family's well-being without forfeiting her personal dreams for stardom. She has worked as a background vocalist, arranger and headlining-performer for D.C.'s famed U Street: Cada Vez series. Now, in 2007, Afi has released her debut album Lovely on her very own imprint, Afi Soul Recordings. Full creative control is a stipulation she has refused to negotiate.
Lovely defines the spirit of this very talented singer, songwriter, producer, arranger and creative director. Afi's passion for music invites the listener to a fun-filled experience, which places her in direct competition with a select group of neo-soul sirens like Angie Stone and India.Arie. Afi's ingenuity as a songwriter can be felt on "Sorry (Gotta Go)" and "You Ain't the One" featuring a rhyme from the self-proclaimed "original African queen of hip-hop" Madarocka. "Sorry (Gotta Go)" is sassy and assertive. Her no-good man doesn't show his love so she just has to leave. On "You Ain't the One," Afi sings over a funk-driven mid-tempo track that could please many mainstream soul music fans.
The majority of Lovely is very well-written and suffers only in terms of recording quality. Some tracks could use a better mix of the elements while others simply sound too much like "basement" recordings. Nonetheless, Lovely displays a versatile singing style absent from many contemporary neo-soul projects. Afi brings a different kind of energy to each song she sings. She finds the pocket of the rhythm and sticks to it.
Afi explores every one of her ritualistic thoughts on Lovely. "Headache" seems like a borrowed idea from Floetry's song by the same title, but it's a unique expression. Family, friends and acquaintances accuse her of "thinking too much," which would be the reason for the unexplained pains in her head. "Unbelievable" (which is accompanied by a reprise) is the inevitable track dedicated to her children. It's vibrant and exuberant like only a mother's love can be.
As a prolific singer/songwriter, Afi has a meaning in life and love. Motherhood brought it to light and her debut project Lovely will prove to inspire others in life and love too. Concertgoers should look forward to any live appearances by Afi in their neighborhood because Lovely has the feel of quite a dynamic live performance. It's like a mother's touch that comforts, nurtures and soothes the soul. It's Lovely...
by Akim Bryant
- Soul Tracks
Discography
LOVELY-Released August 2007
Photos
Bio
Afi [pronounced ah-FEE]
Get acquainted now, because Afi [pronounced ah-FEE] will soon be a name on discerning lips everywhere. Like Eryka Badu and Jill Scott before her, Afi is the latest in a line of talented soul artists emerging from the underground. Multitalented, Afi sings and pens tunes worthy of Washington DCs soulful heritage. This Howard University musical theatre graduate began performing at the age of two in traditional African dance. She soon incorporated singing, drama, and other forms of dance into her repertoire. Afi’s craft was cultivated through pre-eminent programs such as The Children’s Urban Arts ensemble (CUE), DC Youth Ensemble, and the Kankouran West African Dance Company. Afi has remained fiercely independent, even in the light of a recent flurry of attention. One who blesses the world when she opens her mouth, Afi has serenaded her way to gigs throughout Washington’s live music scene. Most of her fans caught her funked-out soul performances as the headline act every first Saturday of the month in Washington, D.C., or at B-Girl Manifesto a popular regular showcase series for women performing artists, or even through her independently released single, "Same Ole" which earned her a nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Artist in 2002 by the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA). She was also a finalist in Washingtons Women Who Jam talent showcase. Without as much as a CD single available in stores, Afi racked up numerous venues up and down the East coast, including Philadelphia’s famed Black Lily, and had the opportunity to open for some of the most talented and respected people in the music industry today. Her amazing vocal ability and stage presence touches her audience as she performs original and classic tunes with vocal prowess of one twice her age. The sunflower, Afi’s symbol, represents Afi’s talent to uplift through performance, and she does just that.
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