Artist&Repertoire.co.uk - Artists - Fola - Biography

Year Formed:

1997

Band Members:

Fola

Influences:

Jazz, Blues, Soul, Country, Reggae

The emotive raspy tones of this talented singer-songwriter will move you. And her sultry melodies will give you the answers to why Fola has been described as ’a natural born singer’ (New Nation Newspaper) and ’an obvious gem’ (Music Week Magazine).

Fola’s first foray into music came with joining an 80’s band called Hoi Polloi. Her first release, ‘Eye on the Prize’, was picked up by Jazz FM Records.

Fola’s talent was given further recognition when she won her MOBO award.

Since then, Fola has been the live singer for Manchester-based ’Mint Royale’, famed for their rendition of, ’Singing in the Rain’, used for a successful car advertisement campaign. She also wielded the mic with renowned Irish singer-songwriter Don Mescall, who has worked with the likes of Ronan Keating, Richie Havens and Leanne Rimes. Those in broken beat/drum and bass circles will soon recognise Fola’s vocals and song writing talents from her work with Shri, one half of acclaimed duo ’Badmarsh & Shri’; the album on which she appears is set to hit streets early 2008.

But it’s not just her vocals and her lyrical acumen; Fola never fails to ignite the stage with her live performances. Fola has repeatedly rocked capacity crowds at Ronnie Scott’s and Jazz Café, as well as sell-out crowds both across the UK and internationally. Such is her talent, she was asked to support the legendary Randy Crawford and The Crusaders on the UK leg of their European Tour.

Fola now appears regularly at a quarterly live music event called Afterglow blu, based in the musically and fashionably vibrant area of Shoreditch, East London.