Malaya

There is no English translation for the Russian word “toska” as it conveys several meanings at once. Very loosely, it evokes all of the various emotions felt when anguishing over something very much loved that is unobtainable. On stage for her debut American solo performance at the legendary The RRazz Room in New Hope, Pennsylvania, Tosca Colibrí hinted that maybe the name was fitting for her because she was missing her home. Born in Subic Bay, the former U.S. Naval Base in the Philippines, from Hispanic-Chinese descent, this exquisite artist was indeed far from her place of origin.

However, the other aspect of the name, “Tosca,” that superbly suits this well-traveled and exotic gem from the East is the fact that she is one artist, yet she offers an entire world of music via her show. In essence, she is many wonderful things at once.

The concert was a beautifully moving and enriching experience. It began with James E. Redcay III performing an elegant piano piece, then Tosca took the stage with a voice so fragile and intimate that she immediately captivated the entire room. Multi-instrumentalist Lorenzo Branca completed the trio performing on percussion, flute, guitar, and vocals. The sparse arrangements allowed for all of the sublime nuances of Tosca’s voice to be thoroughly cherished by her rapt audience.

Tosca’s show, “One Autumn Evening When East Meets West,” was a gorgeous production that incorporated, video, anecdotal stories, costume changes, songs from around the world, and a written program outlining the evening’s musical journeys. Tosca was the consummate host, her attention to details ensured the evening was a dazzling success to all in attendance.

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of Tosca is her ability to take music from all lands and all eras and breathe her delicate grace into the soul of each song to make it her own. The night was an incredible excursion that traveled both around the globe and through time, but it was the refined elegance, the beguiling poise, and the sheer breathtaking splendor of this world-class artist’s performance that made the event unforgettable.

For more information on where Tosca will next spotlight her magic, like her on Facebook. - AXS

Tosca Colibrí (Malaya) is a beautiful jewel. Her finely cultured elegance, sophisticated poise, and immaculate voice are just a few of her many dazzling facets. She is a well-traveled artist who is bringing an entire world of experience to New Hope, Pennsylvania’s celebrated The RRazz Room for her first ever appearance in the United States.

“The concept of the show is East meets West,” Tosca informed during an interview with AXS.com. The roots of her exotic accent can be traced halfway around the globe to the place of her birth. The beguiling artist was born in Subic Bay, the former US Naval Base in the Philippines, and she is from Hispanic-Chinese descent. Her early teen years were spent as a soloist in a world choir before she moved to China to enjoy success as a much sought after vocalist.

“It’s going to be a very eclectic, intriguing evening,” she promised. “I will be performing with James E. Redcay III who is a classical pianist from New York City and multi-instrumentalist, Lorenzo Branca, from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Lorenzo plays the bongos, the congas, guitar, and flute. He also sings and creates these incredible loops.”

Tosca prefers not to classify the music she has chosen for this special event. She will be bringing a varied repertoire of songs from the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s, as well as some more current material and her originals. “There are only two questions I ask when deciding what kind of music to adopt into my artistry,” she explained, “Do I like the sound of it? Do I not like the sound of it?”

And speaking of sound, Tosca’s breathy vocals are as delicate as the wings of a butterfly. Her tone is a divine gossamer spun from opulent gold fibers, and her intimate style of delivery is utterly captivating.

With nearly a decade of global performances under her belt, the young artist has already faced and conquered her share of adversities. She understands how easy it is for your dreams to become lost while you are living your life. In closing, she offered the following words of encouragement to anyone pursuing their heart’s desires: “It’s so easy for your passions and your dreams and your goals and your aspirations to get swept under the carpet, especially if the people closest to you are encouraging you to take a different path. You have to acknowledge and appreciate those encouragements, but at the end of each day, before you go to sleep, make sure you turn yourself back around 180 degrees, and put yourself right back on that path where you belong. It’s not easy, it really isn’t... but that’s what you have to do.”

Tosca Colibrí’s U.S. debut concert, “One Autumn Evening When East Meets West,” will take place on Thursday, October 30 at 8 p.m. in New Hope, Pennsylvania’s The RRazz Room located at 6426 Lower York Road. For more information and tickets to this premiere event, visit www.therrazzroom.com. For more information on Tosca, like her on Facebook. - AXS