R&B star India.Arie has founded her own label, Songbird Music.
Songbird will be released as an imprint of Universal Music. The name "is meant to evoke the Energy of the music rather than the Style," India says.She is not a fan of the made-up genre names like neo-soul. "In this era soul is not a sound or a color, it's an intention," she says. "James Taylor has it and so does Al Green, John Mayer has it and so does Anthony David. That's the kind of music I want SoulBird to represent; music with intelligence and heart, music that moves people in their souls AND their bodies. Music with wings".
That Anthony David name slipped into the quote is her first signing. He was one of her backing singers.
"I'm excited that Tony will be the first artist to be released on SoulBird," stated India.Arie, "Tony is a great talent and one of my oldest friends. I have so many memories with him. Not only did he encourage me to start performing professionally, but it was Tony who suggested I use my first and middle name as an artist. There was even a time when he spent his rent money for me to experiment in the studio."
David's debut is titled 'Acey Deucey'. It will be released on June 17.
She describes his sound as "Bill Withers meets Mos Def".
