Douyé

Douyé
Performance by Douyé at Vibrato Jazz Grill, February. 27, 2018
Background information
Birth name Douyé Doubara Bella Youduba
Born (1969-01-04) January 4, 1969
Lagos, Nigeria
Genres
Instruments vocals
Years active 1983–present
Labels Rhombus Records, Betsy Blue Music/Groove Note
Website douyemusic.com

Douyé (pronounced Doe-Yay) is a Lagos, Nigerian born jazz vocalist who now lives in Los Angeles. She has released three albums; the first two recordings were R&B, but she made the change to jazz for her third album to honor her dying father's request to her when she was a child, which was to sing jazz.

Early life

As a youngster growing up in Lagos, Douyé was interested in the American music of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dinah Washington. She started writing poems, then songs that she would sing at the age of five.[1] Encouraged by her father, Landy Youduba, Douyé joined a local church choir.[2][3]

After a stay in London, she moved to Los Angeles to attend the Musicians Institute in Hollywood as a vocal major and there she became interested in recording R&B music.[4]

Career

At the Musicians Institute, Douyé met songwriter Terry Shaddick, who wrote Olivia Newton-John’s multi-platinum hit, "Physical." Shaddick and Douyé collaborated on songs that became her debut album, Journey, in 2007.[5]

So Much Love was her second R&B album, and featured elements of jazz and reggae.[6] All of the songs were co-written, once again, by Douyé and Shaddick, with fellow Nigerian Dapo Torimiro contributing on a number of cuts. Guitarist/producer Chris Sholar and jazz keyboardist/producer Philippe Saisse also made appearances on the album.[1]The lead track was dedicated to Nigeria’s well-known musician, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.[7] So Much Love was mixed by Ray Bardani and mastered by Bernie Grundman.[8]

So Much Love was called by the Baltimore Times: "13 of the most soulful songs you will ever hear."[6] The album won the 2014 Akademia Award, and a song from that album, “Life Is Good,” produced by Torimiro, climbed to #9 on the UK soul chart.

After the two R&B albums, Douyé released Daddy Said So, a jazz album. Her father had insisted she try the genre in her career, a request he made to her when she was 11 and he was on his death bed. As a result, she began performing in jazz jams at the World Stage in Los Angeles, before recording the album.[9][10]

Daddy Said So features well-established jazz musicians including Ron Carter, Russell Malone,[11] Kenny Barron, Roy McCurdy, John Beasley, John Clayton, and many more.[9]

"Douyé's first jazz record is substantial," reviewed All About Jazz.[11] The album remained on the JazzWeek Airplay chart for 26 weeks.[12]

Discography

  • Journey (2008)
  • So Much Love (2014)
  • Daddy Said So (2017)

References

  1. 1 2 Brown, Ann (July 31, 2014). "Q & A: Nigerian Singer Douye' Enjoys American Success, Second Time Around". moguldom.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Douye". thejazznu.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  3. ↑ Kurniawan, Riandy (August 31, 2010). "Douye – Journey". Jazzuality. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  4. ↑ Nelson-Strauss, Brenda. "Women of the World: Douyé". blackgrooves.org. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Matthews, Philippe (January 2014). "Music Review: Douye". The Philippe Matthews Show. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  6. 1 2 Demps, Phinesse (February 14, 2014). "Indie Soul: Soulful music winter review". Baltimore Times. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "LADYBRILLE MUSIC: DOUYE RELEASES 'SO MUCH LOVE' A TRIBUTE TO FELA KUTI". Lady Brille Magazine. January 25, 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  8. ↑ "Douye So Much Love". allmusic.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  9. 1 2 Gilbert, Andrew (August 30, 2017). "Family Ties Shape New Albums by Douyé, and The Sons of the Soul Revivers". KQED. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "WATCH NEW VIDEO! Nigerian Vocalist Douyé Releases New Album "Daddy Said So" on July 7th, 2017". The Urban Music Scene. July 6, 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  11. 1 2 Worsley, Jim (March 2, 2018). "Douye': Daddy Said So". All About Jazz. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  12. ↑ "Douye – Daddy Said So". JazzWeek. January 29, 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
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