TolumiDE | My Love
TolumiDE – My Love
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TolumiDE is an exquisite, rare talent in today’s contemporary gospel landscape. Of course, gospel music would be considered a natural choice for this singer/songwriter, given her birth name Tolu Olumide; translated as ‘Thank You God’ in her native language Yuruba. With a sound which crosses Western and African cultures,TolumiDE meshes classic soul, modern R&B, reggae, dance, Afro-pop and contemporary gospel. From an artist who was fully engrossed in the arts from her childhood to her college days, TolumiDE was preparing to reach the world with Christ’s love. While growing up in Nigeria, she studied music and dance at the Atlantic Secondary Arts School. Originally, the plan was to follow her father’s footsteps as an architect and engineer. But TolumiDE’s love for multi-media(music, dance, movies, graphics) was her calling and she had a special place in mind. She wanted to expand upon her musical experience by traveling to Toronto, Canada to study graphic arts at York University.
While pursuing her studies, she joined an all female band, Women Ah Run Tings, whose hybrid of reggae, rock, hip-hop and R&B scored highly with fans and was featured on Canada’s premier video channel Much Music. As a side note, TolumiDE designed the band’s website. It is no wonder that TolumiDE evolved into the diversified artist she is today. In the meantime, she was able to complete her degree and follow her dream in the graphic arts world. But these days,TolumiDE’s musical side has come full circle mostly performing in non-traditional gospel venues such as various jazz and world concert venues and festivals in her current hometown of Baltimore, Maryland; her college home of Toronto; and her homeland of Lagos, Nigeria. In an incredibly short amount of time, TolumiDE has generated a major impact on two continents. Besides being nominated with four Canadian Reggae Music Awards with Women Ah Run Tings, she was honored with the2009 African Heritage Award for Outstanding African Artist.
After releasing an EP in 2008 (Specialty),TolumiDE releases My Love, her first full-length self-released disc. Her warm voice glides effortlessly through all her own compositions with equally classy musical arrangements topped with mostly understated African elements on nearly every track. Most of My Love provides a unique listening treat. The title track, where TolumiDE praises Jesusfor who He is, caters to both the younger and mature urban audiences with its calm demeanor and sonic beats. The excellent string section enhances the poetic piece, “Colours of Life.” Classic soul/R&B lovers should appreciate “Specialty.” Then there’s the smooth as butterfunk of “What I’d Like To Be, stating TolumiDE’s desire to strive to think and act like Christ. The jazz-flavored “Speed of Life” talks about living faith to the fullest. Finally, there are plenty of hops on”O Lagbara,” a celebration of TolumiDE’s Christian heritage of her homeland.
The only place where My Love falters is “All Cell Phones,” a lame mismatch mostly because TolumiDE’s fairly easy going vocals fails to deliver with the intensity hip-hop requires. But despite that one oversight, My Love is a loving introduction to TolumiDE’s refreshing brand of gospel and inspirational music.
Peggy Oliver
The Urban Music Scene