Bahia Named July “Best Vocalist Of The Month" With Her Recording Of "All Of Me"
By Dale Kawashima
Bahia
Bahia, an impressive, jazz-influenced singer & writer based in Montreal, QC, Canada, has won the July SingerUniverse “Best Vocalist Of The Month” Competition, for her performance of the standard “All Of Me” (written by Gerald Marks & Seymour Simons). Bahia, who is only 19, is currently negotiating a deal with an independent Canadian label, which has distribution via a major. In addition, she is preparing to record her debut album, which will include her own songs plus her versions of classic songs.
“All Of Me” provides an excellent showcase for Bahia’s rich, expressive vocals. She has a natural, instinctive way of singing, which is a reminiscent of Norah Jones. “All Of Me” is actually one of the first songs Bahia ever recorded (in Jan. 2005), and she completed her vocals in just two takes. This recording was produced by Sari Dajani (who is also her manager), and he played the guitar tracks.
Bahia was born and raised in Montreal, where she was exposed to jazz music and standards at an early age. “My mom played a lot of great music, and one of my favorites was Billie Holiday,” she recalled. “I also grew up around many musicians, and I would listen to some non-commercial radio stations. I liked listening to old Motown, classical and punk rock. One of my favorite groups is the Dayglo Abortions, which is a punk band from Victoria (Canada).”
When she turned 15, Bahia started to sing at clubs in Montreal. Also, her mother introduced her to a family friend, Sari Dajani, who recognized Bahia’s artist potential, and became her guitarist, producer and manager. They went into a studio and recorded several standards, including “All Of Me,” “God Bless The Child” and a jazzy version of the Boxtops’ hit, “The Letter.”
Bahia with renowned producer, Daniel Lanois.
As her manager, Dajani has created some high-profile opportunities for Bahia. He secured a showcase concert for her at the 2005 MIDEM music conference in Cannes, France, which subsequently led to her label offer. Dajani also introduced Bahia to renowned record producer, Daniel Lanois, who recorded her vocals on a song called “The Maker,” which aired on the Canadian TV series, Temps Dur. And in Nov. 2005, he submitted Bahia’s music for the Toronto Independent Music Awards, which named her Best Vocalist.
Currently, Bahia is writing songs, and rehearsing for her upcoming album sessions. ‘I’m excited about recording my album, and about the new songs I’ve written,” said Bahia. “I will be singing jazz, blues and country songs on the album. I’ve also been performing shows at clubs in Montreal, and I look forward to touring when my album comes out.”
Top Five Vocalists Of The Month
"Best Vocalist Of The Month" Winner
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Sophia Ramos
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Patricia Moreno |
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Celeste
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Peter Rice |
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To enter the next "Best Vocalist Of The Month" Contest (the deadline is the last day of each month), please Click Here
