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AML Artists to Watch : @TemiDollface, @CapitalFEMI, @NtjamRosie, + ‘SAWALE,’ Ethiopia’s Version of Flavour’s ‘Ashawo’

Temi DollfaceGreetings AML readers! The time has come for you to meet Temi Dollface, who some are calling the answer to the largely male dominated West African Hip-Hop/Pop music scene. Temi Dollface (born Temitop Phi-Ebosie) is a singer/songwriter who is currently based in London and Lagos. In an interview with OkayAfrica, Temi Dollface expressed that music has been her passion since she was a young child, but she took a detour and went to pursue higher education due to the general consensus in the Nigerian culture that children should pursue traditional, professional careers. I’m so glad she made her way back from her detour because her music is refreshing and electric. In Pata Pata, she uses the term “Pata Pata” in the Yoruba context, which means “completely”. The song is about prolonging the inevitable – the end of a relationship. In the next video featured, I was blown away by her rendition of Wheatus’ Teenage Dirtbag. I absolutely loved this song back in the day, and I loved the way she changed the lyrics and the arrangement of the song. Temi Dollface proves that she is the one to watch at the moment:

Pata Pata – Temi Dollface
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsG0E9OxFZY?rel=0]

Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag”Temi Dollface
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tvMRDD1Wqk?rel=0]

Twitter @Temidollface
Website: http://www.temimusic.com

Never Felt a Love – Capital F.E.M.I.

It’s been a while since I’ve heard the kind of music that takes me back to the days when R&B crooners seemed to rule the world. Singer/Songwriter, Capital FEMI (2011 Headies “Best Vocal Performance Male) earned a feature here this week due to Never Felt a Love’s lyrics and styling; the vocals are very impressive too. Capital FEMI is currently signed to Kennis Music Group. Check out his smooth R&B sound:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1VsT6dzMLM?rel=0]
DOWNLOAD A COPY: http://hu.lk/e7ysg1xsu874

TWITTER: @CapitalFEMI

 Love Is Calling – Ntjam Rosie
Is this life living you? Or are you living it? What is it that you do, not to lose it? Feeling stuck or are you getting a little bit closer? Is this life even yours? Who gave it to you? Self-indulged to the bone, don’t be a fool. Time is now, I’m telling you, get yourself together. Make a choice, take a stand, before it’s over…” I love the lyrics to Love is Calling by Netherlands-based Cameroonian songwriter and vocalist Ntjam Rosie. This song is from her recently released album titled, At The Back and Beyond (available on iTunes). I am currently obsessed with Track 9 on the album called Nsissim Zambe. Although I don’t understand a word that she is saying in the track, it’s one of those songs that still manages to speak to your soul. Anyway, check out the video to Love is Calling below. It’s a great song that reminds us all to stop going through the motions of life, and also that hope is near and that we should cast away our fears:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lShAyHunUdU]

Twitter: @NtjamRosie
Website: http://www.ntjamrosie.com

East Meets West: SAWALE

Okay, so clearly the videos below are throwback tracks. However, I felt like featuring these songs because I recently came across the Ethiopian version of Flavour’s Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix). I had no idea that an Ethiopian (Amharic) version of Flavour’s hugely popular song was made, and that it took the clubs in Addis Ababa by storm. After reading some comments on Youtube and doing more research, there seemed to be many people that were angry about this version being made because they said that it’s a complete rip off. One commenter stated, “Plagiarism is the Sawa Sawa Sawale -The Ethiopian Version of Flavour’s Nwababy.” And here comes my point for all you AML artists out there that wish to sample another’s music. In a nutshell:

  • If you use samples in your commercially released music, you should get legal permission which is referred to as “sample clearance.” Failure to get the proper permission could lead to serious consequences such as lawsuits or the inability to distribute your music to the public.

  • In general, sample clearance is required only if you plan to make copies of your music and distribute the copies to the public.

  • If you use an uncleared sample, you can lower your risks by (1) making the sample unrecognizable; (2) not using the sample as the groove or hook; (3) not using the title of the source music in the title of your song.

AML’s Ms. Ollachi went into extensive detail on this point here and you should familiarize yourself with the music law article. In addition, I would add that you should also use common sense. You have to give credit where credit is due and you don’t need to be an attorney to know that. Personally, I enjoy both versions! I just hope that the proper legal standards were followed, and that the sample owner was able to get a piece of the publishing (which brings me to my next point). The fact is that credit is definitely due to one man who virtually went unmentioned in these online debates. The man who made the ORIGINAL “Sawale” track – the late Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson! Let us not forget; I grew up on his music. Check out his version below too:

NWA BABY (Ashawo Remix) – Flavour
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMSTYtMSbL0?rel=0]

Sawa Sawa Sawale (The Ethiopian Version)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rLa03jU2-Y?rel=0]

SAWALE – Cardinal Rex Jim Lawson
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBOXi3bJ7ug?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
 

Udeme Uwan

Ms. Udeme Uwan is a licensed attorney in the State of California. A graduate of Howard Law School in Washington D.C., Ms. Uwan is an Africa Music Law intern whose editorial intern contributions are in the AML categories of "INDUSTRY NEWS" and "MUSIC". Look for her posts on AML on Tuesdays and Thursdays now until May 2013. Please give her your feedback and let her know how she is doing, what you like and don't like. Thanks!

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