Steel Yourself, by Sontiago (CD on Endemik)

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What we say about Steel Yourself, by Sontiago

This record left our Brian feeling happy.

The 2nd bugger is by Portland, Maine's SONTIAGO and switched things around a bit. It's like proper crashing future-hop with sassy, soulful & brooding female vocals, thumping drums, twinkling samples & an eerie kaleidoscope of uncluttered, invigorating sound. I can hear spots of Nicolette here, early Luscious Jackson there, even Leila on one track...but the general vibe is SO damned fresh & crisp with a genuinely unnerving amount of pure talent & verve. Nicely varied too, like all the passionately assembled sounds from this great stable. This lady is a rare talent i tell thee. The Canadian underground snaking it's way into your conscience. The great thing here is that abstraction & clever-dicking is largely eschewed in favour of big TUNES for the head & feet. 'Steel Yourself' is simply marvellous gear. Check her @ http://www.myspace.com/sontiago

What the label says about Steel Yourself, by Sontiago:

    

When her grandmother took her to her first live show at age seven, a young Sontiago felt ever changed by the sight and sound of Ella Fitzgerald, and was forever hooked on music. Her first three 7” records were Herbie Hancock, Madonna and Prince. Her first rap show, Public Enemy. Her first stage appearance came about in College when she began rhyming and singing publicly in North Carolina with her male collaborators. It wasn't until her move to Maine and a very encouraging hip-hop open-mic night crowd that she had the faith to pursue a solo career. Funded by grant money, she released her debut album, Abuse My Adoration, in 2004.

When Jill Carroll, the reporter for the Christian Science Monitor was kidnapped, her editor was given the task of calling Jill's parents. "Mrs.Carroll, he said, steel yourself."

Sontiago’s new album, Steel Yourself, is about bracing for the unknown. These are songs about getting blind sided, cruel reminders that you cannot predict destiny and have to work with what is tossed at you to the best of your ability. It's about the emotional chord that gets struck upon break-ups, untimely death and the repercussions of Hurricane Katrina.

Even when dropping a surprising battle rap Sontiago remains insightful and positive and continues to make good of another situation gone, not wrong, but in another direction.

Steel Yourself features production from some of hip hop’s most talented producers, Alias (Anticon) and Maker (Galapagos/Glue) and features one guest rap from Bleubird. Good friend dilly dilly, previously of Cerberus Shoal and recent member of Sage Francis touring band, pairs up for vocals on four songs.

Combining skillful raps and singing, Sontiago captures attention with a seasoned presence on Steel Yourself. Most recently recognized as one of URB magazine's Next 100 up and coming artists of 2007 this emcee and songstress proves worthy with a new approach on the genres that raised her.

"An inspiring voice used to uplift, Sontiago’s rhymes and soaring singing voice get her message out to aspiring MCs, male and female alike.” – URB

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