Selena McDay
Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., United States | SELF
Music
Press
..."commanding singer [with a] heartfelt...rich pliable Alto [voice]". - Washington Post Entertainment Reporter Mike Joyce
...a "charismatic entertainer"; [a]"crowd pleaser"; "sensational ‘get down’ stage performances”. - Washington Post Entertainment Reporter Mike Joyce
"Reveal[s] both an indebtedness to Sarah Vaughn and a certain sassiness [all] her own"; "emotionally expressive". - Mike Joyce Entertainment Reporter, Washington Post
"A smooth, slow voice that brings to mind the funk of Macy Gray, [romance of] Anita Baker, along with classic sound reminiscent of Billie Holiday" - Bowie Blade News staff writer, David Emanuel
Discography
"Cry With A Smile", the debut album, is Selena McDay’s introduction to the world, a "dream deferred" that shares some of the bravura vocalist’s most intimate thoughts, strongest beliefs, hopes and dreams, strengths and insecurities, unearthed during years of introspective soul searchin’, family rearing, dream chasin’, dues payin’ years of her life. Co-written and co-produced by her multi-talented, Poet/Artist/Writer/Producer son, Samuel “RiZion” Risien, Jr., "Cry With A Smile", was released on the mother/son team’s small family owned, independent label HLFW (Honesty, Loyalty, Friends & Wealth) Recordings on "Black Friday", 11/25/2011, and 1st single "Wine Me & Dine Me" on Friday, 11/11/2011 and is available on her website www.SelenaMcDaySings.com and CD Baby.
"Cry With A Smile" is a collection of “Ole Skool, Nu Kool” universal messages of love lost, love found, love cherished; self discovery; passion and fantasies; dreams realized and Karma; of just getting by and making it through; staying grounded and moving on, but never forgetting your roots; the love of family and friends; never losing your Faith and according to the Singer/Songwriter, knowing that "you’re never alone"; but most of all, the divine revelation that "fear and Faith can never occupy the same space"! The 16 tracks are brilliantly delivered over R&B, Neo-Soul, Jazz and Latin rhythms, sprinkled with a touch of Rock, and Hip-Hop. Each song uncovers Singer/Songwriter's "smooth, deliberate, energetic, multifaceted vocals bringing to mind the funk of Macy Gray, the class and romance of Anita Baker, the undeniable soul of Angie Stone, Ledisi and Mary J Blige, and the classic sounds of Billie Holiday, one of her earliest idols.
Photos
Bio
Raised in the Village of Harlem, Brooklyn and the "boogie-down Bronx", NYC, my earliest exposure to "The Music" was listening to my Mom, an aspiring Blues singer during the 40's, 50's & 60's, learn songs for her shows. My life-long musical journey began in the Baptist church when my vocal potential was discovered around 9 yrs old after being chosen to sing the lead to "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" in the Easter Sunday pageant. Since that first performance, I've shared the stage with the likes of Wynton, Branford & Ellis Marsalis, Kenny G, Clark Terry, Stanley Turrentine, Pieces Of A Dream, Dr. Billy Taylor, Harold Mabern, Herbie Mann, & some of the East Coast's most talented artists, too many to name here.
As "life" would have it, while I was busy raising a family, hosting a series of shows for BET Television as a "VJ" on their ground-breaking program “Jazzy Vocals”, and travelling the world with as Washington Post's Entertainment reporter Mike Joyce described, my "crowd pleas[ing], sensational “get down” stage performances, my struggle to record my 1st album remained elusive! After several "close encounters" including a 5 year recording deal at 15 years old, with Joe & Sylvia Robinson (of then All Platinum Records, later Sugar Hill Records) to an almost deal with a former Diana Ross agent (who’ll remain anonymous) that fell through during negotiations at the last minute, I never stopped believing in my dream.
After desperately seeking a "Production/Distribution deal", my son RiZion (aka Samuel Risien, Jr.) and I started our own small indie label HLFW (Honesty, Loyalty, Friends & Wealth) Recordings for the sole purpose of making our Music dreams come true. A multi-talented Poet/Artist/Writer/Producer in his own right, RiZion produced & co-wrote my debut album "Cry With A Smile", digitally released on "Black Friday", 11/25/2011, and the 1st single "Wine Me & Dine Me" released on Friday, 11/11/11. The "Wine Me & Dine Me" tour is scheduled to kick off late Spring 2013 (dates & cities TBA)
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