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Venitia Sekema

About Me


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Venitia Sekema "The title track to Venitia Sekema's CD, Hell on High Heels, is the most frightening foot apparel tune since Nancy Sinatra’s These Boots Are Made For Walkin'." Not what you'd expect to be said about performing songwriters these days, but Venitia has gotten used to being the exception to the rule. She has been steadily winning over audiences around the midwest with her straight forward, sometimes funny, always emotionally moving lyrics. "Hell on High Heels", her second full length album released May 2007, has been met with critical success and radio and internet airplay in the US, Canada and Europe. "Like a cooling thunder storm on a prairie-hot day her voice soothes the soul." The CD was named one of the top 30 albums of the year by 88.1 WVPE, as did her 1st studio effort, "Lucky Numbers" in 2005. She was a featured artist on the Michiana musician’s compilation CD "Brand New Day, and has worked as a studio vocalist for recording sessions in Nashville, Tennessee. Venitia was selected as a Featured Showcase Artist at the 2007 FARM Conference. Venitia is currently working on her 3rd full length album, "Boomland" due out in 2009. Here's what others are saying: "Her sound is at once sparse and amazingly full. No more is needed: a ringing acoustic guitar and her sultry voice...that is all I needed to be a fan." Vince DeFarbo, CD Baby "A solid record that's got spunk and a sense of humor. As for this more soulful vibe, it's a hat -- or rather, a pair of high heels -- that she wears well." Karen Rivers, South Bend Tribune. Sekema tours mostly through the great lakes area, including Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, but have recently included some of the north and south eastern states. To maintain her local exposure, she hosts a successful open stage at The Livery, a micro brew and concert hall in Benton Harbor Michigan, a favorite stop of many national musicians. She has also been asked to open for many well known and up and coming performers on the international circuit today, such as Jeff Lang, Corinne West, Robin and Linda Williams, and Chris Thele, Jill Jack, Annie & Rod Capps, Allison Downey, Mary Cutrufello and Canadian, James Gordon of the Juno Award Winning folk group, Tamarack. Venitia's style is hard to pin down, a typical performance includes songs that range from a Delta Blues to Uptown Jazz, Down Home Country to the most Modern Folk. Even with so much variety, the audience connects with what she has to say, since deep down she has the heart of a storyteller, and each person can find something in her songs that relates to their own life.As the saying goes, She's a lil' bit blues, a lil' bit folk and a whole lotta soul!

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Music:

Member Since: 26/12/2007
Band Website: www.venitiasekema.com
Band Members: Venitia has primarily been a solo performer, touring mostly throughout the Midwesten states, and occssionaly done shows in the Southwest and Florida.In preparation of her 3rd full length CD release, she has been working with her own band, nicknamed the Benton Harbor All-Stars. After meeting them and jamming at her weekly open mic at the Livery in Benton Harbor, the response was too great to ignore, so they started working up her original material. the All-Stars are: Joe Bradley on Drums, Brandon Dinges on Bass and Danny Dine on Lead Guitar and Harmony Vocals. Venitia drives the bus with her original songwriting, soulful vocals and skilled guitar work. When asked about her music and how it's perceived, she says, "I'm dispelling the myth about folk music, one song at a time"To suppliment her career and just have a "damn good time", she recently joined forces with Kevin Quarandillo of Not Just Blues. Together they've made a few changes resulting in the band Kevin Q and the Night Crew with Venitia Sekema, playing electric blues, now emerging as one of the areas powerhouse bands.
Influences: Well, I always have at least one Patty Griffin CD in my car at all times, but it really goes far beyond that. Everything from early folk to progressive. Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Bonnie Koloc, Rickie Lee Jones, Joan Armatrading, Ani Defanco, Suzanne Vega, Alanis Morissette, Joan Osborn, Tracy Chapman, Beth Orton, Shawn Colvin, Jane Siberry, John Hiatt, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle (the world needs more steve earle's) and more. Growing up between Detroit and Chicago, I was blessed with a rich amount of music to listen to. Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the Staple Singers, Otis Redding, Al Green, Sam and Dave, Sly and the Family Stone, Elmore James, Little Milton, Big Mama Thorton, James Cotton, BB King, Willie Dixon, Muddy, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, John Lee Hooker, RAY CHARLES, Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tadeschi, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Peggy Lee, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Arturo Sandoval, Jane Monheit, Miles Davis, John Coletrane, Buddy Rich, Buddy Rich, Max Roach, Louie Bellson, Tito Puente, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Tony Bennett, Pat Metheny, Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Willie Nelson (for President), Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Allison Krauss, Don Williams, George Jones, Roy Clark & Buck Owens, Bill Haley & the Comets, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, 10 Years after, Janis Joplin, Uriah Heep, PINK FLOYD, the Who, Led Zepplin, the Stones, Rush, Robin Trower, Blind Faith, Cream, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Steely Dan, the Band, Bob Marley, the Kinks, the Police, Elvis Costello, the Cars, Cold Play, Beck, Radio Head, the Cure, Lenny Kravitz, Morcheeba, the Brand New Heavies, Supreme Beings of Leisure, the Sring Cheese Incident, Rusted Root, OAR, Ben Harper, Angelique Kidjo, Sweet Honey on the Rock, Ladysmith Black Mambazo............................oh man! Not to mention all of the PIK's (people I know) making amazing independent music out there. It just goes on and on. :-)
Sounds Like: VENITIA SEKEMA
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: Indie

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