Mellow Baku profile picture

Mellow Baku

A new voice in British music..superb-Courtney Pine

About Me

"I do what I Love and I Love what I Do!"
I'm Mellow Baku - born Mellow Harmony Avstreih. I believe I was doomed and blessed to sing! I grew up in London then Northampton, England. I spent 12 years as a child with mum sister and brother in a christian commune. No TV or radio, but we all learned guitar chords, harmony, songwriting skills and performing live. No secular/pop music played, so I was influenced by folk, baptist hymns and gospel.
In my early years in London, from when I was in the belly til 6 years old my mum played mostly reggae, jazz, and soul continuously, which I can't properly remember, but when I left the commune at 18 to study Fine Art in Leicester, the feeling I got hearing Bob Marley, Billie Holiday and Stevie Wonder first time as an adult was really like a nostalgic fascination and a "coming home".
I began performing original soulful folk songs on guitar as a student in pubs and bars in the Midlands, then in an original groove/blues band, Mole, then earning my bread & butter as a vocalist with jazz bands around the country.
I've performed at the Edinburgh Int Festival of Music, Birmingham Jazz Festival, Princes Trust events, The Barbican, and Vortex in London.
Started voicing with Soothsayers this year (Afrobeat/Reggae/jazz ) and with Chris Jerome, pianist for Courtney Pine. Also collaborated with Courtney Pine on a remix of Black Coffee, and more recently on reggae artist Michie One's latest album, alongside Jimmy Cliff and Rebel MC.
My new project, 'Mellow Baku' is a culmination of these influences, with elements of roots, soul and jazz. They reflect my spiritual roots, with storytelling and poetry.
I'm always digging for a VIBE. For me the Vibe is the part of music we can't explain, the Vibration, that echoes in our soul.
'Siren Sound' is an modern urban romance in the darkest sense, looking at the loneliness many people feel today; 'Time is Now' celebrates our potential to achieve what we dream of. So Dig and Long Live the Vibe!!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 6/26/2006
Band Website: ...later
Band Members: Players on 'Mellow Baku' EP are:

Mellow Baku (Songwriter/Voice) Alex Wilson (Rhodes/Songwriter) Alan Simpson (Guitar) Mike Mondesir (Bass) Pat Illingworth (Drums) Murray Elsdon (Trumpet) Tony Briscoe (Producer/Songwriter)
Playing Live (see clips) with:
Mike Sole (Keys) Steve Nutter (Bass) David Anderson (Drums) Sabrina salmon (More Vocals)
Influences: Well...apart from tv, media, hypnotists, collective consciousness, ancestry, DNA and advertising(?!)...Stevie Wonder, PJ Harvey, Billie Holiday, Prince, Bob Marley, Bjork, Cole Porter, Sarah Vaughan, rhythms, polyrhythms, riddims, beats, groove, vibes, Tom Waits, Cy Twombly, Basqiuat, Blossom Dearie, Jimi, the Psalms, Blondie, Doctor John, Toni Morrison, A A Milne, Cassandra Wilson, Courtney Pine, water (mostly the sea) praise, criticism, heckling!..chords, melodic shapes, riffs, Bob Dylan, KD Lang (particularly singing 'Hallelujah' on Jools Holland show) half a puff of the weakest joint, Rachelle Ferell, John Lee Hooker, Moloko, late nights, insomnia, Michie One, Amber, Love, God, Christ, being skint, curiosity, stories, Pain, Beauty, Now, Mum, alcohol. Ec, Set. Er...Ra!
Sounds Like: * * * soul stories against a jazz backdrop with a setting sun on a reggae horizon * * * "A new voice in British music, with an original blend of jazz soul reggae and fine pop. Superb voice, brilliant music, a must for all" - Courtney Pine


Record Label: give me a reason...
Type of Label: None

My Blog

MY SONG 'TIME IS NOW' PLAYED ON RADIO 2!!

Just had my song 'Time is Now' (full version of the tune on my page) played for the first time on national radio!   Went out as Unsigned Artist of the show last Wednesday (25 October) on Courtney...
Posted by Mellow Baku on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 09:55:00 PST

Gracelight

I fail, but I try My faults are wide and varied I fall short of the sky Too many scars I carried   Number of the beast carved into my back I was born blessed, but under attack Now I dont mind bec...
Posted by Mellow Baku on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:07:00 PST

I love sometimes

I love the sound that brings me down like falling in a wishing well   I love the way the music sways with all the stories I can tell   sometimes I cry beneath the sky it happens when I thi...
Posted by Mellow Baku on Sun, 30 Jul 2006 05:49:00 PST