Since 2013 the word has been slowly but steadily getting out beyond Scandinavia about artist Seinabo Sey. Raised in Gambia as well as Sweden and now based in Stockholm, she was blessed with a stunning, rich, and highly distinctive voice. Top this with exceptional soundscapes created by her fellow Swede, acclaimed producer Magnus Lidehäll as well as very strong material written or co-written by Sey herself and you have a triple threat that rivals the best in the business, including her biggest musical influences Erykah Badu, Lalah Hathaway, and Lauryn Hill.
Two stellar EPs have been released so far. Named after her Swedish mother and her late Gambian musician-singer father, the six-track 'Madeleine' (2014) and the four-track 'Maudo' (2015) offer up outstanding genre bending songs that immediately commands the listener's attention and stay with you long after the last note has faded.
This month and next month Sey returns to the UK and the U.S.; about a dozen shows are scheduled. She will will also be performing at a few festivals in the UK and in continental Europe this season. First up however is a headliner gig May 13 in Frankfurt.
The gorgeous videos accompanying the three sublime tracks "Pistols at Dawn", "Hard Time" and "Younger" wisely feature the charismatic Sey herself; all three are composed of stirring imagery that fully compliment her powerful vocals. The three clips were directed by Christian Larson (Sweden), Casper Balslev (Denmark) and Gustav Johansson (Sweden), respectively.
An excellent interview with Sey was published in Swedish magazine Nöjesguiden in March; it was conducted by its editor-in-chief Amat Levin. (NOTE: Though far from perfect, the various instant translation services available on the web will provide non-Swedish readers a better-than-nothing alternative.)
http://nojesguiden.se/omslag/2015-03/seinabo
http://www.songkick.com/artists/8258588-seinabo-sey/calendar
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/for-madeleine-ep/id958403340 (her first EP)
https://itunes.apple.com/dk/artist/seinabo-sey/id466464368 (both EPs, iTunes Denmark)
https://www.facebook.com/seinabosey
http://christianlarson.com/work/
http://www.casperbalslev.com/
https://vimeo.com/gustavjohansson
