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Randevyn
My Mission: "I aspire to utilize my art to create positive, thought-provoking music that inspires and strengthens humanity".
I want to first thank Chris Rizik and the Soultracks community as well as every person who has supported my music over the years - you have kept me motivated.
After nearly three very challenging years of recording with several different producers, adding and scratching songs from a list, singing my heart out in vocal booths, sitting across the table from major labels (as they shook their heads) and most importantly - listening carefully to my spiritual inner-guidance - The Randevyn Project is finally here.
Despite our chart-chasing culture, the single most important thing to me at this point in my life is that I continue to create music that flows directly from my thoughts and emotions to the heart of listeners. I've pledged my best efforts to the cause of exposing as many people as possible to the message (s) of this album; human endurance, courage, perception, strength and hope. After the release of my first album (Soltrain), I found myself in a very low and empty place as I faced constant major label rejections, severe financial strain, writer's block, a shifting of my musical angle and the transition of management. In response to these overwhelming challenges, I began a process of emotional healing. During this time, I spent every day working in the studio where I wrote (and co-produced) songs that foretold a brighter future - songs that recharged my dreams and reminded me of my commitment and passion for life, music and creativity.
The more I wrote and recorded, the more I began to feel consumed by a phenomenal sense of inspiration, unlike anything I'd never experienced before. No matter how many hours went by, I never got tired enough to take more than a 24-hour break. When budget challenges came, somehow I just knew those hurdles would be overcome and the album would be released. One way or another, I never got frustrated enough to lose hope. I was convinced that the release of The Randevyn Project was supposed to happen - and here it is.
On this album, I was able to capture the essence of my higher self during a vulnerable yet very strong, insightful time in my life. The songs on this album are not a collection of love songs cleverly delivered with different words and melodies - they aren't songs that you'd expect to hear on VH1 Soul or BETJ, but they are the transparencies of my heart delivered through drums, bass, guitar, piano and even live violin on some occasions. This is an album that will softly speak to your hidden self. I'm definitely on a new train - I welcome you to climb aboard. Ladies and gents - I proudly present The Randevyn Project.
Enjoy!
Randevyn
Web Sites:
Official Web Site
Listen to interview at HoneySoul.com
Biography
While the modern hip-hop crowd knows Atlanta as the center of Krunk Nation, the Southern city is increasingly making its claim as the unofficial hub of the underground soul movement, with one talented soul singer after another claiming that town as home. And while India.Arie, P.J. Morton and, most recently, Anthony David, have made names for themselves around the US and Europe for their brand of melodic acoustic soul, Randevyn is proof that there's still more great Southern Soul to come.
Randevyn was a well-known church singer in his hometown of Newport News, Virginia by his early teens. He had been trained since he was a child by his father, who was himself a professional singer. In high school he was mentored by the late Rev. James Moore, and the relationship led to Randevyn becoming a lead tenor in the Colorado Mass Choir directed by Stellar Award winner Joe Pace.
As a young adult, Randevyn decided to pursue a career in music and moved to Atlanta, where he began working with a multitude of future stars ranging from India.Arie to Floetry to super-producer Rodney Jerkins. Teaming with manager Sincere Johnson, Randevyn recorded his debut album, SolTrain, which documented in part his life as an aspiring musician working a regular daily job in Atlanta. The disc was released in August 2005.
He followed SolTrain nearly four years later with The Randevyn Project, an ambitious project that abandoned the urban sound of his debut and instead hearkened back to the pop singer/songwriter sounds of the 70s. It was a risky creative move for the young singer, but was a worthwhile project that received much deserved attention.
by Chris Rizik
