Author: leilaadu.com

Spring Update

Post author By leilaadu.com
Post date March 14, 2011

Leila in Pisa 1 — Leila in Pisa, Italy by Dania Gennai

Leila Adu has completed the European leg of the ‘Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker’ CD Release Tour and she hits the States again in the Spring. She played in duo with Orlando Greenhill with Pitch Like Masses, Falsetto Teeth & Peter Mayer in LA and continued through Europe with the ‘Ode’ drummer Daniele de Santis, along with Mills Projects, Dead Days Beyond Help, Limeheaded Dog, Poino, Otto Fischer & Dave I.D.

‘Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker’ has garnered reviews by Beverly at MTV Iggy, Kambui at URB ALT, Gianluca Diana of Alias and Rock IT, Antonio Pellicori of All About Jazz Italy, Giancarlo Turra of Sentire Ascoltare and Enrico Bettinello of Blow Up, among others. The CD is available online and as a physical import in the U.S., as well as in selected European stores. Thanks to everyone who has already purchased ‘Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker,’ as well as Leila’s previous albums!

The ‘Fortuna’ video single directed by Boston Fielder has been viewed 660 times in 5 days, with an independent marketing campaign. Leila is already working on a new avant-garde electro song album with hot producers around the globe and will be represented at SXSW 2011.

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Mysterious Music Video for “Fortuna” single

Post author By leilaadu.com
Post date March 8, 2011

March 7, 2011 – For Immediate Release

Leila Adu caps European leg of Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker Tour with debut of the music video “Fortuna”

“…Leila Adu is a Revelation…” – Robert Wyatt, legendary founder of Soft Machine and Bjork collaborator
“Leila Adu is a rebel-inspirer. And not in the way that calls for the raising of fists, or the hurling of sharp word-blades. Her defiance is decided… Anger isn’t its mother. Wonder may be.” – Purple Magazine
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Leila Adu. Photo by Leon Dale. Styling by EightyJane
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Please PLAY, POST & SHARE

“Fortuna” is the second single and first video from Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker by Leila Adu

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[VIDEO – YOUTUBE in HIGH DEFINITION]:
Leila Adu – “Fortuna” Video [2011] Tracce/Rai Trade

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Read reviews of Leila Adu’s Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker HERE

Touching down in locales as varied as Los Angeles, London, Rome, Sicily and Berlin, Leila Adu has successfully completed the first segment of her recent “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker” album tour. Emboldened by a steady flow of critical acclaim, the London-born Ghanaian/New Zealander steals a moment to release the music video for “Fortuna,” the second single from “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker.” “Fortuna” will appear on popular music media channels, websites and blogs throughout the globe beginning on Tuesday, March 8th.

“Fortuna” features recent performance video of Leila on organ/vocals accompanied by her drummer, De Santis in Berlin’s intimate music venue, Ausland. Video director Boston Fielder and his production group Odd Endeavors sought to reveal the ethereal yet dissonant blues of the song by using images captured during the heat of the tour with basic consumer video cameras. “Fortuna” lyrics of loneliness and perseverence such as “What goes down must come up/A circle or a cycle or a wheel” are realized through the use of raw found footage, time lapse manipulations, abstract layering and slow motion movement studies. Fielder says “there is a dreamy almost innocent quality to Leila’s work that can suddenly be usurped by waves of musical aggression. That dichotomy is what I wanted to capture. It’s what makes her music SOUL music.”

Leila Adu is humble yet confidently leaping from time zone to time zone in search of the next great adventure. She is an artist whose musical fortunes are on the rise internationally. It’s only fitting that “Fortuna” be her next offering to the world.

Leila Adu is available for interviews and other press opportunities.
Click HERE for Hi-Res images of Leila Adu.
Contact: Jess Levy at Little Red Hen Publishing for more information.

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Leila Adu
Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker
(S/R, 1/18/2011)

Track Listing:
01. Martian Raft
02. Brazen Hussy
03. Must Walk Slowly
04. Trojan Cow
05. Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker
06. The One Minute Pastry Song
07. Fortuna
08. Glass
09. Slick Department Store
10. A Moment of Peace
11. Cigarettes and Circus Puffs

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Leila Adu Links

WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : MYSPACE : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : BANDCAMP : URB ALT

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Leila Adu Management and Bookings
EMAIL

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News Archive

Vaudeville in Berlin

Post author By leilaadu.com
Post date February 21, 2011

Friday 25 februar @ 21:00
Leila Adu + Mills Projects
Ausland
Lychener Str. 60, Prenzlauerberg, D-10437
BERLIN

www.ausland-berlin.de/

– Check out a Live Review of the Rome Concert “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker CD Release Tour” here: Inkoma Zine

Tags ausland, daniele de santis, leila adu, mills, mills projects, prenzlauerberg, vaudeville

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“Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker” CD Release Tour

Post author By leilaadu.com
Post date February 12, 2011

Leila Adu Leaves the Assembly Line for the “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker” CD Release Tour

Leila Adu embarks on a 2 month tour of the US, United Kingdom and Europe in support of her new CD released on Rai Trade/Tracce

London, United Kingdom – February 8, 2011 – Winter is arching towards Spring with singer/keyboardist/composer Leila Adu touring the US and UK/Europe in support of her critically acclaimed new album “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker.” Released January 18th on Italy’s Rai Trade/Tracce label, Leila’s work on the album has been sited as “a revelation” (by legendary Soft Machine founder Robert Wyatt), “Alternative-Alternative” and “Joni Mitchell brimming with melanin.” Leila Adu is ready to bring all those declarations home.

Born in London of Ghanaian and New Zealand descent, Leila has made quite a name for herself on the global experimental pop and improvisational circuit. The “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker” Tour which began in Los Angeles, CA, on January 28, crosses Europe in February-March (shows still being added) and climaxes with a special homecoming CD release show in London. The tour features her dark yet humorous songs speaking the language of pre-war blues, sci-fi environmentalism, immigration electronica and Bing Crosby . Leila is accompanied on drums by noted Italian electronic producer Daniele De Santis, with some dates featuring supporting artists such as Otto Fischer, Mills Projects and Dave I.D.

Leila Adu has been hailed as an artist who is “a rebel inspirer.” She says “the world is a beautiful place but in this moment there is a lot of pain and injustice that is not being fully addressed. Art should reflect that.” Armed with a strong belief in the power of live music, “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker” (tour and CD) seeks to challenge the status quo and comfort the challenged. The great reviews are coming in but Leila’s journey has just begun.

The “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker” Tour Dates (more to be added later)

friday january 28 @ 9:00 PM
Leila Adu with Orlando Greenhill
The Mezz Bar
501 South Spring Street
LOS ANGELES CA 90014

mercoledì 16 febbraio @ 22.00
Leila Adu (solo)
Circolo Caracol
via Battichiodi
PISA

giovedì 17 febbraio @ 21:30
Leila Adu with Daniele De Santis
Fanfulla 101
via Fanfulla da Lodi, 101
ROME

venderdì 18 February@22:00
Leila Adu + Accademia del Danno
Circolo Arci Lebowski
Corso Vittorio veneto 817
RAGUSA
Italy 97100

freitag 25 februar @ 21:00
Leila Adu + Mills Projects
Ausland
Lychener Str. 60, D-10437
BERLIN

thursday 3 march @ 8:00 PM
Leila Adu + Otto Fischer solo
The Vortex
11 Gillett Street, Dalston
LONDON

The “Ode to the Unknown Factory Tour” is sponsored by URB ALT Media and Little Red Hen Publishing.

Contact: K’China Li for 4961 Polemics
email: urbalternative@gmail.com
twitter: urbalt
facebook: www.facebook.com/LeilaAduMusic
website: www.leilaadu.com/media-relations

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Up Close & Intimate

Post author By leilaadu.com
Post date February 12, 2011

Leila Adu has mastered the art of forging smart outsider music with a warm accessible core.
Her new album “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker” is a determined step in a journey towards a new artistic folklore merging a century of musical traditions with an electronic future. It speaks the language of pre-war blues, world music, post rock electronica and truly eclectic folk‐pop.

PERFORMANCES START AT 9.00 PM

TICKETS £7.50 @ticketweb or £10.00 at the door

‘Up Close & Intimate’ Series
saturday 5 march @ 8:00 PM 
Leila Adu
Arch1 Members’ Club
Cranberry Lane 
West Ham, E16 4PD
LONDON

Arch1 Member’s Club

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Leila Adu finds Harmony with the Voiceless

Post author By leilaadu.com
Post date January 11, 2011

printable version

Leila Adu celebrates global CD release on Rai Trade/Tracce, the Italian National Radio label

New York, NY—Leila Adu reemerges to the international music scene on January 18th with her powerful new album “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker.” The 11 song CD is a raw musical travelogue of uncertainty and triumph in the exciting nomadic life of the popular New Zealand/Ghanaian singer-composer-multi-instrumentalist. Touring the globe solo and with band throughout 2009-2010 in support of her Steve Albini produced “Dark Joan” LP, Leila received a spontaneous opportunity to return to the recording studio from Rai Trade/Tracce, the Italian National Radio label. The resulting album, “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker,” primarily features her dark yet humorous songs in naked arrangements for solo voice and piano/electric keyboards. Accompanied on 4 propulsive tracks by drummer Daniele De Santis, Leila’s quirkily structured compositions speak the language of pre-war blues, sci-fi environmentalism, post-rock world music, immigration electronica and Bing Crosby.

TRACK LIST
Martian Raft
Brazen Hussey
Must Walk Slowly
Trojan Cow
Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker
The One Minute Pastry Song
Fortuna
Glass
Slick Department Store
A Moment of Peace
Cigarettes & Circus Puffs

Leila Adu has mastered the art of forging smart outsider music with a warm accessible pop core. The worldwide CD release of “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker” on January 18 is a call for celebration and reflection. It is Leila’s determined step in the journey towards a new global folklore merging primal traditions with an electronic future.

[ Visit website | Purchase ]

Leila Adu at All About Jazz

Original article

Tags adu, anthony braxton, daniele de santis, eighty jane, environmentalism, joni mitchell, ldp studios, leila adu, leon dale, mary egbula, new york, new zealand, ode to the unknown factory worker, rai trade, robert wyatt, the fashion cult, tracce, urb alt

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Artist Buzz Video & Europe Tour Dates

Post author By leilaadu.com
Post date January 11, 2011

See Leila’s live performance and interview for Live from the ATL:

/// Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker CD RELEASE TOUR /// Tour Dates announced in Rome, Berlin & London

Tags adu, berlin, leila adu, live from the atl, london, new york, new zealand, ode to the unknown factory worker, rai trade, robert wyatt, roma, rome, tracce, urb alt, urb alt sampler

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New Website

Post author By leilaadu.com
Post date January 4, 2011

— NEW SITE for 2011 now here at leilaadu.com with new stuff, like Leila’s blog ‘Time Travel Blog’ – Take a look around!

— NEW Leila Adu Facebook Page: the Facebook group is being phased out into a page. Be one of the first to: “LIKE!” Facebook Musician/Band Page

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Hot off the Press

Post author By leilaadu.com
Post date December 27, 2010

Interview — The Fashion Cult

“The BeatStylist recently had the pleasure of chatting with singer/songwriter/composer/musician Leila Adu, whose fourth album Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker is out now…”Themes are along the lines of our current armageddon/global disaster zeitgeist, portrayals of women, consumerism and good ol’ attraction and loving woes.”” Read full interview at The Fashion Cult

[photo Leon Dale, styling Eighty Jane]

Review — Italy’s premiere Alt Rock & Experimental Magazine ‘Blow Up’

“This new work recorded for Rai Trade’s beautiful Tracce series, sees her [Adu] in almost total solitude (in four songs she is joined by Daniele de Santis on drums) and comes to grips with a singer-songwriter with extremely sparse piano and vocals yet rich with off-kilter digressions. Splinters of folk, of blues but also hypnotic and ghostly prog [absit inuria verbis!] that move away from the more popular terrains and put her in a personal sphere with which you want a little time to familiarize yourself. Fascinating when you become attuned to it. (Click photo for full review in Italian)

Tags adu, anthony braxton, butch morris, daniele de santis, eighty jane, ldp studios, leila, leila adu, leon dale, mary egbula, matthew shipp, ode to the unknown factory worker, robert wyatt, the fashion cult, tracce

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Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker

Post author By leilaadu.com
Post date December 17, 2010

Leila Adu’s new album is OUT NOW online through Cargo Records UK and Goodfellas Italy, licensed by Raitrade (the Italian National Radio label who have released albums by Anthony Braxton, Robert Wyatt & Matthew Shipp.) The album is in stores in Italy where it is already receiving critical acclaim: Sentire Ascoltare and I’ve Always Wanted to be a Gangster

Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker will be in stores in the UK, USA, Japan, Germany and France in January 2011.

Tags adu, anthony braxton, butch morris, cargo records, daniele de santis, goodfellas, leila, leila adu, matthew shipp, ode to the unknown factory worker, rai trade, robert wyatt, tracce, urb alt