SENAYA

It was with unexpected joy and delight that I visited the Tranzac club for the Francophone Festival's presentation of Senaya, with opening act Donne Roberts. I was enthralled by her presence and direct openness with the audience. Obviously, well experienced in communicating, Senaya performed with an unwavering focus on keeping us hooked into her every word.Performed mostly in French she spoke playfully and seriously with her crowd on the joy of life, love, music and sharing in such a manner that left a contagious happiness. She is definitely gifted in getting the audience involved, whether dancing, clapping, singing along or simply laughing at her candid approach. We thoroughly enjoyed her challenging us to groove on down right to the ground with her saying "you think this is easy, you try it... " and so we did, what a laugh ! Accompanying her on stage was vocalist Maranda Colin and guitarist Cecile Doo-Kingué.Senaya's CD "Garde La Tete Haute" - Keep Your Head High is a collection which clearly describes what can be referred to as guintessential neo-creole soul. The world beat infused poetry of Senaya is refreshing to say the least. With limited knowledge of French along with Creole slang expressions, the shear sensuality and depth of the messages in this release and the "Team" as referred to in the credits, is emotionally intreguing and compels one to listen again and again. Overall this is a signature work to flag as the collection that should catapult awarness of Senaya to great international stardom. The technical aspect of this CD is superb, in good taste and well thought out. Trust me, each replay will yield more and more to the ear.The title track "Garde La Tete Haute" is a feast of the vocal prowess of Senaya with a simple and catchy hook line woven into words of consciousness and individual determination. The urgence to keep the highest regard for the things that nurture one the most, is a timely message from an artist deeply commited to her art form. I have very rarely used this expression for any new artist younger than 30, but her performance, stage presence and experienc speak that of a natural DIVA, who works incredibly hard for what she loves to do and is well travelled enough to know what she's talking about to people all over the globe.Eryn Vogn & Julius Veal for Heads Up Live www.headsuplive.com/Senaya.html

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Dans le pays de l'imaginaire, il était une fois, Senaya, une noire qui vient du pays où la négritude a pris naissance. Tout en elle est démesure, elle est chanteuse, compositrice et interprète, parle et chante en sept langues. Elle a déjà parcouru la moitié de la terre non pas comme visiteuse, mais pour y résider. Une humaniste engagée; sa cause, c'est une justice humaine pour toutes et tous. Senaya se dit habitante du Monde Toujours en interaction avec les autres cultures, elle chante le Zouk, le Pop, le Soul, le Funk, la Bossa Nova, le Rap et le Jazz, et tout cela dans sept langues. Comme vous voyez, elle est dans la démesure de tout. Du Sénégal à Montréal, elle a fait du chemin, Europe, Amérique du Sud, Puerto Rico et Guadeloupe et finalement Montréal. Et déjà l'engouement pour son style et son énergie se fait remarquer. Elle est désignée interprète de l'année au Festival international de la chanson de Granby en 2003 au Québec. Elle a été membre du groupe multiracial Sunroots. Il y a un an, Senaya a sorti son premier album : « Garde la tête haute » au Canada, accompagnée de musiciens tels le claviériste Sonny Black et le guitariste Wesley Loussaint. Cet album a été en nomination aux Juno's Awards pour la catégorie Album francophone de l'année 2006; Il contient treize chansons, chacune avec une couleur différente. C'est avec le rêve des pères de la négritude, Léopold Senghor et Aimé Césaire, que Senaya nous dit de garder la tête haute!