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ABOUT
- Singer/songwriter Maiko Watson brings a fresh take on soul to the Canadian independent music scene. Whether performing with a band or minimal instrumentation, her radiant sultry voice shines through... delivering a powerful, earthy, organic sound that sets her apart from the rest. Influenced by artists such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sade, David Bowie and Bjork, Maiko fuses elements of disco, du-wop, jazz and rock, creating a sense of nostalgia while remaining well ahead of her time. A dynamic performer who has been on the stage since elementary school, she puts her heart and soul into every show and knows how to rock a crowd. Her debut album, “Sweet Vibration” recently took home Best Urban Album at the Breakout West Awards.
"....She has this wonderful voice, very soulful. Great pipes!" Kinsey Posen, CBC Radio
“…A personal triumph and a first-rate showcase for her lush, soothing vocal tones, which are wrapped in a spirited mix of jazz, reggae, soul and disco influences. There's not a duff track out of the ten on the disc.” Matt Bauer, Exclaim! Magazine
Maiko has been singing for as long as she can remember. She began writing songs over instrumental music at age twelve. She earned her first moment in the spotlight while still in her teens, beating out over four thousand young women to become a member of Sugar Jones, a girl group spawned from reality TV show "Popstars". Sugar Jones debut album went platinum and had two top ten singles on the Canadian Charts.
Her music has continued to spread steadily across the globe, being featured on a number of blogs throughout North America, the UK, France, and has been widely downloaded via torrent. Highlights included being featured on BET's Soul Session, The Paul Miller Soul Show on BBC and CBC, as well as placing songs on the hit TV series L.A. Complex and Degrassi:The Next Generation, as well as UK-based Soul Unsigned: The 2010 Summer Session compilation.
Maiko is continuing to write and perform across Canada and looks forward to touring around the world. She is a member of artist collective 88 Days of Fortune.
Sweet Vibration is available on Itunes here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sweet-vibration/id338709733
"Breaking My Heart" is available for free download here: http://maikowatson.bandcamp.com/
88 Days of Fortune:
RECENT PRESS
"NNNN (out of 5)...A total career reinvention...Her fantastic voice soars through soulful numbers like Haunting Me and the piano-driven Another Day...A mature, engrossing album accessible enough for casual listeners of this genre. Watson has as a sound that evokes classic soul but doesn't ape it." Andrew Rennie, NOW Magazine
"She has a rich, expansive set of pipes, imbued with a subtlety that reminds me of singers like Amy Winehouse, Des'ree and Estelle. The Winnipeg native wrote, arranged and produced the 10-song collection… Her debut album is comprised of optimistic ruminations about love and life in a soothing mix of jazz, disco, reggae and soul." Ashante Infantry Toronto Star
"Nothing Watson has done before will prepare you for this easy perfection of the singer/songwriter’s smoldering debut, Sweet Vibration. Channeling sultry vets Maxine Nightingale and Marlena Shaw with a healthy dollop of Amy Winehouse, Sweet Vibration is the perfect 11th hour entry to close out 2009". L. Michael Gipson, BET's Soul Sessions Blog
"A one-woman force, her music will seduce you, and her voice will leave a lasting impression." Freshly.Educated.Men
"...Sweet Vibration is a profound showcase of Maiko Watson's singing and writing skills. Unlike most contemporary 'urban' albums, which feature walls of sound produced by committees, this is a living, breathing document of rootsy, classic soul performances, pure and simple." John Kendal, Uptown Magazine
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Uploads
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Tracks
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SHOWS
JUNE 13th @ MOSKITO BITE - TORONTO
423 College St. West
$10
JUNE 16th w/ MOSES MAYES @ OLD MARKET SQUARE - WINNIPEG JAZZ FESTIVAL
FREE
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