OTLC 19--SELAH SUE

Name-Selah Sue

Locality: Leefdal, Belgium

Color: Green Bloom: springlike; renewal. 

The Story: Gritty-crooner Selah Sue grew up in Belgium, writing songs out of pubescent despair inspired by Lauryn Hill and The Fugees. It started off as a hobby; she intended to obtain a degree in psychology at the University of Leuven. However one day, she decided to upload a few songs to Myspace and see if the world would watch.

The response was a bit more mammoth than expected. Between the upload and rubbing elbows with successful artists at gigs, she caught the attention of UK based Because Music, who offered to sign her for a debut album (Columbia later offered to sign her on the US side). 

When they asked her who she wanted to work with, DJ Farhot rose to the surface as a definite choice. He worked with Nneka on her releases. The German/Sierra Leone born Patrice Bart-Williams, a reggae master, was also called to service. The album was self-titled, and featured Meshell Ngedeocello ("Mommy") and CeeLo Green ("Please," also on his album The Lady Killer). It sold 600,000 copies worldwide. Yet Selah approached a new playing field when she crossed over to the US market.

The album, which was re-released in the US in August of 2012, had an iTunes Single of the Week hit for “Ragamuffin,” which she had re-released featuring J. Cole. She acquired significant attention from the blogosphere, and Questlove invited her to play at The Roots Picnic festival. She then toured with Ed Sheeran and Emeli Sandé.

Whether it be the drama of relationship woes, (“Fade Away”), a flattering tribute to Mum (“Mommy”), or the fight for clarity and survival (“Fyah Fyah”), Selah Sue is set for global success, beaming into our spirits with every word.

Selahsue.com

@selahsue

facebook.com/selahsue

Coloring outside the lines because: it may be the guttural husk of her wail that gets you. Or the fact that she can confidently sing the words “knotty dread” and make you believe in her yardie qualities, Selah Sue’s style is unmatched. Her songs, video’s, even her eyes penetrate the soul. This is something everyone can feel.

Think: Miss Lily's, converting the callous apathetic i.e. Tin Man finally getting a real heart so that he can feel (imagining he couldn't sense all along), lasers, No Doubt and Diplo baby, frog-in-throat affiliates (Amy, Adele, etc.)

Propers-- Paper Mag, NPR