Abiah - Abiah Sings Nina (2018)

Nina Simone inspires me in unimaginable ways. Upon encountering her music as a college student, I was captivated by her voice and artistry. Her prodigious piano playing and unique voice spoke to my soul. When I heard her voice, I could see the text in an almost technicolor way. At that very time, I was studying the vocal art of text painting by composers such as Schubert and Schumann. From the first time I heard Nina, she was in full display in her vocal murals. I was transfixed and sought to do the same in my own music making. The beauty of her art was also congruent to the musicianship I was acquiring. Her aspirations of being a classical pianist were akin to mine as an opera singer of African descent. I believe we both found it daunting but attainable.

Much like Nina Simone, I am an anomaly and have found my journey challenging because I don't fit in the box so easily. It has caused me to create my own world much like she did. Exploring Nina's catalogue as example, was the first step of many to form a sound of my own using all the worlds I loved. Not that I was aiming to imitate her but rather find the freedom of expression she documented. My own journey has been a constant evolution to embrace my entire self, worrying less about titles but more on the truth. My truth would be whatever I felt convicted enough to record with an unparalleled honesty.

ABIAH Sings NINA is my homage to her great legacy and tutelage. I'm honored to have learned from her exquisite covers that ultimately became her own. In that same tradition, I aim to reimagine her contributions in hopes of elongating her influence and reaching depths of my own.

Thank you Dr. Nina Simone.

My deepest gratitude to my fans who paid for this album via my Nina Simone GoFundMe campaign. I hope that you love it. To my friends who contribute greatly to my life's work: Mike Boyd, Francis Augustine, Matthew Furman, Jamie Owens…for always believing in me. Love and thanks to God, my wife MaameYaa, Mom, Dad and Mom Hilda, the Boafo Family, Godmom, Paul, Yaw, Kwadwo, Rebecca, Esquire, Citi, Muri & Feven, Chris & Barbara, Ron Simons, Chris Johnson, Bishop & Lorna Brown, Peter & Denise Fernandez, Tressi & Dwight Colon, Chike & Glendaly.

Special thanks to David Darlington, Keith Witty, Nya Parker Brown, Ulysses Owens, Jr., Jason Martin, Michael Clark, George Littlejohn, Robb Patryk, ChiChi Anyanwu, Nana Dabanka, Earl & Kim Hopkins, Rhonda and Clive Holdup.



Track List:
01 - Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair {00:06:11}
02 - Tell Me More And More And Then Some {00:04:11}
03 - Keeper Of The Flame {00:04:15}
04 - Don't Smoke In Bed {00:02:13}
05 - See-Line Woman {00:02:33}
06 - My Man's Gone Now {00:06:07}
07 - Wild Is The Wind {00:04:00}
08 - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood {00:03:58}
09 - I'm Just Like You {00:02:59}

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