Tuelo & Her Cousins release debut self-titled album
By Dennis Kabatto – New York based South African singer, songwriter and guitarist Tuelo & Her Cousins – a Brooklyn, New York seven-piece band are on a roll, amidst a series of success.
Tuelo & Her Cousins
After 3 sold out performances at Smoke and Mirrors Collaborative Presents South Africa Onstage at Lincoln Center in New York City a couple of weeks ago, Tuelo & Her Cousins will release their debut self-titled album at a special event on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the SubCulture, a subterranean music and arts venue located beneath the streets of New York.
Images of the Lincoln Center’s awe-inspiring performances posted on social media depict young and old members of the audience rocking and swaying onstage to Tuelo & Her Cousins.
Tuelo performing live
Tuelo & Her Cousins take their soulful African rock and blues even further in this new 10-track self-titled album recorded over the summer of 2013 at the Leopard Studios in Woodstock, NY with additional sessions at No Parking Studios in New Paltz, NY. Produced by Grammy Award winning producer Dean Jones and mastered by Joe Lambert.
“The album highlights the power and beauty of Tuelo’s voice through her intricate songwriting style and the eclectic backing of her Cousins.”
“I met them (my cousins) in 2012 at MIMA Music, a music improvisation, nonprofit organization that teaches children arts program in especially low income and minority communities,” said Tuelo during a recent phone interview from her office in New York City.
Tuelo Minah who hails from the Tswana group of South Africa writes and sings most of her songs in English but she occasionally “breaks into her native tongue, Setswana, blending African melodies with American soul in a way that puts her unique and powerful voice on prominent display.”
A press release announcing the debut self-titled album says since her arrival in New York City, Tuelo’s credits include singing backup vocals for Hugh Masekela, Paul Simon, Lebo M (Composer of Lion King) and Angelique Kidjo among others. As a member of Angelique’s band, she can be heard on two of her most recent albums Djin Djin and OYO.
Tuelo has performed at diverse and venerable stages such as Central Park Summer stage, Carnegie Hall, Late Night with David Letterman, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music just to name a few. As a soloist, she has performed with the renowned Ethel String Quartet, the South African All Stars, and Juxtapower South African Song and Dance. She most recently served as the music director for Ndebele Funeral which won the Overall Excellence Award – Best Play at the 2013 Fringe Festival NYC.
Copies of the CD will be available at the show, through iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and dozens of the most popular download and streaming sites.
