LATE NIGHT GROOVE SERIES: SHELLEY NICOLE'S BLAKBÜSHE

FEATURING:
Shelley Nicole, vocals & bass
Jerome Jordan, guitar
Ganessa James, bass
Shawn Banks, percussion
Hiroyuki Matsuura, drums
Achuziam Maha, backing vocals
Kiki Hawkins, backing vocals

So many artists today claim to be progressive, but Shelley Nicole's blaKbüshe are the living, breathing embodiment. Shelley Nicole is equal parts vocalist, songwriter and bassist making blaKbüshe it's own mash-up. Imagine Nona Hendryx meets Black Sabbath or Janis Joplin meets Grace Jones and there you will find the blaKbüshe experience. It is a blend best described by Shelley Nicole as SolaRoc; combining elements of rock, funk, soul and beyond.

Shelley Nicole hails from Newton, MA, but now called Brooklyn, NY home. Since her arrival on the New York music scene she founded Red Butterfly Music, the label through which she released her debut album, "...she who bleeds." Her band, blaKbüshe, has performed at hot spots all over New York City, the southeast, west coast and Europe including B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, The Blue Note, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Endenu (Atlanta), Genghis Cohen (L.A.) and the Mau Mau Bar (London).

blaKbüshe has been called reminiscent of the Soul/Pop recording group Labelle. Even Labelle member Sarah Dash agrees saying, "blaKbüshe is not to be overlooked. They are going places." Opening for Erykah Badu at the Tea Party in Brooklyn and recording with KRS-One confirms that she is on her destined path.

Before putting her band together, Shelley Nicole released "Being Me" (1998) on Imani/King Street Records. The song topped charts in London and received critical acclaim in New York and Europe's dance music scene. Club DJs still spin "Being Me" and her latest club release "Dance (Flying Home)". Shelley's next single "Black Girls" from her forthcoming album is featuring the documentary film U People as well as on the soundtrack. This song is destined to be an anthem for Black women around the world.

Author and Associate Professor of Black Popular Culture at Duke University Mark Anthony Neal says, on "...she who bleeds" Nicole created a vibrant synthesis of Rock and Jazz, which ultimately aimed to tweak the staid sensibilities of both mainstream America and the gatekeepers of African-American culture and identity."

Get ready to experience a musical revolution. Get ready for blaKbüshe!