Josephine Oniyama

Josephine Oniyama performing at BBC Salford on 20 December 2012. Image © Emma Farrer 2012 and used with her permission.

Josephine Oniyama is an English singer-songwriter with Jamaican and Liberian roots that are reflected in her songs, which cover genres from gospel and country to soul music. [1] [2]

Early life

Living in the Manchester suburb of Hulme, Oniyama grew up in a colourful West African culture[1] combined with the large musical heritage of Manchester[3] which shaped her style.[1] She was playing gigs by the age of 15.[1] During her college years she was further influenced by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Marley.[1]

Career

In 2012 Oniyama released her debut album Portrait which was produced by Leo Abrahams.[1][4] The album also features co-writes with Jimmy Hogarth and Ed Harcourt.[1] The album was preceded by singles "What a Day" and "Original Love" (A-listed on BBC Radio 2). The album received positive reviews from The Guardian,[5] The Times,[6] The Sun,[7][8] The Mirror,[8] Q[8] and Mojo.[8] The single "Portrait" was played on Radio 2 and was released at about the same time as the album.

Oniyama appeared on 'Later with Jools Holland'[9] and the Andrew Marr Show[10] and more recently performed live from Glastonbury on BBC2.[11]

In 2012 Oniyama backed up Paolo Nutini,[12] Michael Kiwanuka,[13] Rodrigo y Gabriella[14] and The Noisettes in live concerts.[15] She toured with Paloma Faith[16] across her UK tour in early 2013 as well as undertaking her own headline tour in April 2013.[17] Her festival appearances in 2013 include Glastonbury,[18] T in the Park,[18] Latitude[18] and The Electric Picnic.[18]

The album Portrait was released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on 5 July 2013.[18]

In 2015 she contributed by singing on four songs on the jazz album Into Forever by Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra.

In 2016, Oniyama appeared on Scottish band Travis' 8th album, Everything at Once. She featured on the track "Idlewild".

Releases[19]

"Last Minute" (single) Label: Ark Recordings / Rubyworks Year: 2013

Portrait (album) Label: Ark Recordings / Rubyworks Year: 2012

"Portrait" (single) Label: Ark Recordings / Rubyworks Year: 2012

"Original Love" (Single) Label: Ark Recordings / Rubyworks Year: 2012

"What a Day" (single) Label: Ark Recordings / Rubyworks Year: 2012

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 n.a., n.a. "Biography". Solar Management. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  2. ↑ Lester, Paul (29 June 2012). "New band of the day: Josephine (1,298)". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  3. ↑ Simpson, Dave (4 July 2011). "Has Manchester forgotten about its musical heritage?". The Guardian Culture (London: The Guardian). Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  4. ↑ "We Plug To You… Josephine – Portrait". Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  5. ↑ Spencer, Neil (7 October 2012). "Josephine: Portrait – review". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Josephine at Bush Hall, W12". Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  7. ↑ Sweeney, Chris. "Josephine Oniyama gives it some telly". London: The Sun. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Josephine Oniyama Press". Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  9. ↑ "Episode 5 Series 41". BBC Two Later... with Jools Holland. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  10. ↑ n.a., n.a. "The Andrew Marr Show". BBC One, The Andrew Marr Show. BBC One. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  11. ↑ Oniyama, Josephine. "Glastonbury: Music's Pop-up Town". Huffington Post. Huffington Post. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  12. ↑ n.a., n.a. "Paolo Nutini Thursday 2nd June". King Georges Hall Blog. King Georges Hall. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  13. ↑ n.a., n.a. "Michael Kiwanuka @ Junction, Cambridge, 22 May 2012". Music OMH Blog. Muis OMH. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  14. ↑ n.a., n.a. "Rodrigo Y Gabriela confirm Olympia Theatre Dublin 2012 live concert date for Sunday August 26th!". Music Scene Blog. Music Scene. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  15. ↑ Stone, Richard. "Noisettes (Interview & Review)". Oxide - Oxford Student Radio. Oxford University. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  16. ↑ "Josephine will bring strong support to Paloma Faith tour". South Wales Argus. Leisure. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  17. ↑ n.a. "Josephine brings her first UK headline tour to Manchester". Chester Chronicle. Ellesmere Port Pioneer. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 "Josephine Oniyama". Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  19. ↑ "Josephine Oniyama". Retrieved 10 January 2013.
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