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| Singer-Songwriter Ola Onabulé & Guitarist Nicolas Meier Present - Proof of Life, Sharing a Passion for Culturally Diverse Musical Expressions. British-Nigerian singer-songwriter Ola Onabulé, in collaboration with Swiss guitarist Nicolas Meier, is set to release a new album titled Proof of Life on June 30, 2025. Proof of Life produced and recorded at Onabulé's Casa Del Funk Studios, showcases the synergy between the two artists as they explore culturally diverse concepts and themes. Their partnership, which began through a series of livestream performances during the pandemic, has evolved into a collection of ten original songs. Proof of Life features a blend of Onabulé's signature songwriting style of polyrhythms and melodies drawn from his African roots with Meier's love of eastern, world and Jazz themes as well as his expertise with a wide range of stringed instruments. This has resulted in the creation of a work with a rich tapestry of sound that resonates with themes of love, life and philosophies of survival in tumultuous times. The songwriting process was marked by a process of organic collaboration, where both artists contributed ideas and melodies, resulting in a cohesive body of work that captures their individual strengths while exploring creative boundaries were new to both artists. First single - Rio deJaneiro On the face of it, 'Rio de Janeiro' is a simple song about young love. A sincere declaration of the truest and most abiding affection by a suitor of modest means in the humblest of surroundings! The setting might not be exotic and exciting like, Rio de Janeiro but the declared feelings are real and forever. Ola Onabulé is also renowned for his remarkable three-and-a-half octave vocal range and collaborative performances with an impressive range of international big bands and symphony orchestras, including The WDR Big Band, The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, The SWR Big Band, The Babelsberg Film Orchestra, HR Big Band, The Liepaja Symphony Orchestra, The Danish Radio Big Band, Latvian Radio Big Band, The Big Band Jazz de Mexico and other Grammy Award-winning ensembles internationally. With twelve albums to his credit, Onabulé has established himself as a versatile artist who seamlessly crosses musical genres, earning worldwide critical acclaim for his impeccable writing and production skills. His last album, Point Less was listed on many international publications as one of the best albums of 2019 including Downbeat Magazine, All About Jazz and Jazz in Europe amongst them. The music from Point Less has since been arranged for Big Band and Symphonic Orchestras and performed in Europe, Mexico and South America. Nicolas Meier is celebrated for his versatility. He was a featured collaborator in Jeff Beck's Jeff Beck Group, touring the world with the seminal guitarist twice. Meier is known for his exploration of Eastern, harmonies and melodies which translates into his prodigious mastery of eastern stringed instruments. His work with Turkish Makam and Ayak scales is of particular significance, as is his extensive musical portfolio showcasing his diverse compositional style across many 'World Music' genres. His collaboration with Onabulé on Proof of Life represents a unique meeting of minds between two skilled communicators and seasoned performers who share a passion for culturally diverse musical expressions. Regarding the origins of the project, Onabulé explained, "During the pandemic, I found myself hosting livestream shows from my Casa del Funk Studios. It was at this time that I was introduced to Nicolas Meier. From the moment we started working together, I felt an instant musical synergy. Over the course of about nine live-streamed shows, it became clear that we had something special brewing. Sure, I was impressed by his stint touring with Jeff Beck, but what really caught my attention was Nicolas' prolific work as a composer. As the world began to open up again, I couldn't resist suggesting we collaborate on some new material. So, in late 2021 and early 2022, we finally got together to start this exciting creative journey." Regarding the compositional process, Ola continued, "The writing sessions were effortlessly enjoyable and immediately very productive. We threw sketches of ideas together with ease and collated the 10 songs that form the basis of the album over 4 or so half-day meetings. Once we decided it a sketch of an idea was a viable option, things generally went one of two ways. With ideas that originated with Nicolas, I would hum into a dictaphone as he played them to me to capture the most organic and instinctive melodic and lyrical responses to the music. In turn, Nicolas would build guitar accompaniments and arrangements around melodies that I had originated. We seemed to find our way to this modus operandi without any pre-emptive discussion or contrivance." The collaborative process between Onabulé and Meier was characterized by a dynamic and organic approach to music creation. Onabulé developed initial demos with drum, double bass, and keyboard parts, which Meier would then enhance with guitar arrangements. They would meet to refine arrangement details, discussing tempos, song structure and potential modulations. Onabulé innovated his lyric-writing technique by using a stream-of-consciousness approach, recording vocals directly in the control room and making immediate edits. The initial programmed demo tracks were ultimately replaced by live studio recordings, preserving the most inspired and spontaneous musical moments. Ola Onabulé's multifaceted role in the creation of Proof of Life sets him apart in the genre. As producer, co-composer, vocalist and recording engineer, Onabulé demonstrates a rare level of creative control and technical expertise. This hands-on approach allowed Onabulé to capture spontaneous moments of inspiration while maintaining the highest sound quality. Nicolas Meier played a crucial role as co-composer and performer on Proof of Life, contributing his exceptional guitar skills and diverse musical influences to the project. His ability to enhance the emotional depth of each track through intricate guitar accompaniments showcases his versatility and artistry, making him an integral part of this innovative musical partnership. Mixed and mastered by renowned US engineer/musician/keyboardist, George Whitty, this album is a testament to Onabulé's production quality and songwriting ability. As they prepare for an international tour as a quartet/quintet in 2025/26, Proof of Life promises to offer audiences a captivating live experience that highlights the unique musical dialogue between these two accomplished artists. TRACKS 1. Rio De Janeiro 5:21 2. Aegean Blue 4:07 3. Proof of Life 5:08 4. Centauri 6:48 5. Sorry in the Morning 7:11 6. True Story 4:00 7. Eternally Yours 4:34 8. Funmilayo 5:10 9. Future Past 5:45 10. Two Scoops 6:14 write your comments about the article :: © 2025 Jazz News :: home page |