I AM an Artist with elements of blissful,entertaining movement World, Hip House, New Age Dub Flavor. Dub-Poet | INpowerment Speaker | Re Definer | Writer
Being spoon fed by his parents and community the sounds of R & B, Jazz, Funk, Gospel, Hip-Hop and Great Literature; Culturetainer and Poet Kolayah, was given the seeds that would forge and later on blossom him into the multidimensional sound that you move and vibe to today.
Kolayah has appeared on TAG TV Episode 1 and he has performed on many stages with amazing Artists such as Martha’s Trouble, Professor Griff of Public Enemy, Nat’l known Jahbu Ourinde, Shaun Judah, and Def Poet Abyss, Joi Miner, nabraska, Eryk Moore, Venom, Author; Shani Green-Dowdell, Mia A. Speaks, Mark Lacy and many more. He has been a featured speaker at major Universities, Community Colleges, Eighth & Rail, The Gnu’s Room, Starbucks, Taina’s Art Gallery, Touch 910 AM, SummerNight (Auburn Art Walk), Alabama Shakespeare Festival (Culture Fest),Wellness Workshops, Fitness Forums and Congregations.Kolayah’s musical roots were developed in his bedroom and High School guitar class. It was there he felt free to explore and learn to play the guitar and the drums and eventually step behind the microphone like his favorite Soul, Rock, Funk and Hip Hop Artists. After several years of rehearsal and playing large and small concerts for schools and community, Kolayah knew he wanted to travel the world and perform in front of large crowds. “Fat Boy’s Cover of The Beach Boys ‘Wipe Out” was the first Hip Hop song I ever performed in public.” Kolayah says with a chuckle. After high school Kolayah sold his guitar (to help pay bills) and the stage lights lowered - until some years later that familiar urge made Kolayah pick up the pen and pulled him back into the spotlight.
Collaborating With DJ N8 (ConSection); They released the EP Water Tawk in 2007 with the single; Like Rain, releasing World Wide in 2008 and Sound Amazon 2008. The way Visioneir, Kolayah and DJ N8 [Nathan North] put their unique sound together - raise the bar, fusing Spoken Word and Rap lyrics with World, Heavy Dub , Drum & Bass, Dance and Hip-House Beats . It is nothing short of amazing how these two weave their gift so well together from opposite parts of the world. Kolayah is from Southeast US and DJ N8 hails from North West UK. Climb into the provocative, exotic and empowering vibe of these masters of their craft and be CULTURETAINED.
From the Bass driven “Just Like Rain” to the eye opening “Tyrant Like Him” and “They Sound Like Gods”; Kolayah’s voice is a mirror hoisted up to society, dares you to look and asks – “Do you like what you see”?
Kolayah is booking shows and performing throughout the southeast. He is currently perfecting his sound and stage presence, recording fan favorites, new songs and spoken word pieces in the studio of Rob Slocumb (Martha’s Trouble).
Kolayah is releasing his newest project; KAM: The Return Of Kings (Digreël) produced by DJ N8 (dubsection) and Pimp Slim (Burn One Productions).
“KAM is a series of recordings that are throwbacks to the era of the Side A and Side B records we used to run to the record store to buy and collect”.
KAM: The Return Of Kings will Feature a Dance floor moving; UK Hip House, “Teleidoscope Jungle Mix” (produced by dubsection). and a Southern Fried; Trunk shaking, Remix of” Penthouse Stares” (produced by Burn One Productions). The Single is set for Digital release on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, eMusic, Cambridge Coffee House and other fine outlets in June 2009. You can sample both streaming tracks on www.reverbnation.com/kolayah and www.myspace.com/kamsound. “Time and again Critics and Judges try to put our style of music and rhythmic flow into a box and attempt to define who we are. I can simply say that music is a vibrational celebration that is alive with movement and it brings about a transforming joy, peace, love, empowerment and change, “THIS IS SOUND ART”, In-Joy”.
