This summer, Sitali will release his debut album, “I Am a Tree,” which
combines the Washington singer/songwriter’s un¨orthodox use of vintage
guitars with his earnest and soulful lyrics.
Sitali has created a rock record with a timeless sound by drawing on a wide
background of rock, soul and world music. His lush and textured vocals
create soundscapes that sometimes delight and other times haunt. It will be
released July 7.
In the poignant Veteran’s Day, Sitali sings about themes as grand as war and
loss. “Yes I died for no reason by the mouth of a gun... My name, my name,
is as old as a melody; now it’s written in stone, on a black granite wall.”
He draws on the imagery of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington,
D.C., where the album was recorded.
The Delta blues infused Black Star calls on the strength and tenacity of
enslaved Africans and exclaims, “I sooth my agony in song, now you see why I
am so strong.”
It is this strength and the triumph of the human spirit – regardless of age,
race or ethnicity -- that is most apparent on “I Am a Tree.” Sitali’s music
spans genres and draws heavily on the influences of his international
childhood.
Sitali was born in New York City, the son of Zambian diplomats, and began
learning guitar in Cairo, Egypt, when he was only seven years old. Early on
he absorbed the sounds of North Africa and the Middle East. He continued
his music education in Moscow, Russia, and later at boarding school in
England where he performed in various theatrical productions.
For “I Am a Tree,” Sitali collaborated with bassist and vocalist
Jean-Francis Varre, who shares his love of roots rock. Drum virtuoso and
producer John Lane rounds out the trio. The album also features
contributions from D.C.-local Ben Andrews.
Sitali has performed at a variety of Washington venues including the D.C.
Arts Center, Fort Dupont, Takoma Station and Bossa. He first began
recording in England in 1983 at the Sussex studio of record producer Glyn
Johns who worked with the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, and Led Zeppelin.
After that, Sitali moved between Washington, New York and Seattle, recording
with Juju House who has also recorded with Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack and
Grace Jones; bassist Scott Ambush who now plays with Spyro Gyra; and
keyboardist Frederico Pena who has played with Maxwell and M'eshell Ndege
Ocello. He also shared the stage with jazz organist Jimmy Smith, the
Average White Band, Funk/Gogo master Chuck Brown, and Eva Cassidy.
”I Am a Tree” was produced in Washington, D.C., at Trans Am National
Recording Studio and Smurph Productions. It will be released Thursday, July
7, at 8 p.m. at a party at the Eighteenth Street Lounge, 1212 18th Street
NW.
Contact: info@odaraproductions.com
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