Bashiyra | Thought You Knew

Bashiyra – Thought You Knew

 

Just in case you want to know, the name Bashiyra means glad tidings and joy.  She has certainly reflected those sentiments in each phase of her career.   Since she first entered the industry, this veteran musical artist has been very active in many capacities.  She has taught and inspired future generations to realize their musical potential by striving towards the utmost professionalism as performers.  Her background vocals have been featured with international superstars from soul diva Patti LaBelle, to one of the U.K.’s greatest rockers Queen.  As a savvy business woman, she has collaborated with fellow musicians to form their own vocal agency.  From time-to-time, Bashiyra released numerous singles including the reggae hit from 1993 “I Will Always Love You;” to the jazzy dance jam“Mistified” in 1999 from Walk Spirit Talk Spirit by Red Raw Collective; to “U Know I Love It” on Super Chumbo’s Wowie Zowie project.  With all these rare grooves under her belt, music fans around the world began to pay more attention to her extraordinary voice.  Yet with all these accomplishments behind her, she is finally ready for her first full-length recording close-up.  Her debut, Thought You Knew, is a canvas of classic soul, funk, jazz and plenty of dance beats.  This is indeed a well-rounded musician who loves to spread the gospel of music towards anyone she meets.

 

Bashiyra has taught vocal and songwriting to people of all ages all across her hometown of London, England.  Her heart especially belongs to the youth connecting with school children of all grade levels and those with special needs.  One organization she co-partnered is ITA; utilizing the powers of music and literacy arts so different cultures can better understand their differences.  Those community services did not go unnoticed as The Festival of Black Female Voices honored her with an Aspiring Black Female Singer nomination in 1995. 

 

Also known as ‘The Voice,’ Bashiyra sets high standards in the studio whenever she sings lead or background – whether tone, harmony, or the relationship between vocals and instrumentation.  Thought You Knew scores many points on these attributes.  Her commitment to each lyric especially makes this self-released disc an enchanting experience.  The jazz-embellished “Immaculate” encourages persons to handle their business properly: “Stand firm.  Breathe.  Take your time.  Don’t rush, just hold on.”  “Outside In The Rain” calms the senses with a smooth jazz/R&B blend.  There are spiritual themes as in the case of “Give Back To Mother Earth.”  Bashiyra brings out her sassy side on the funk-filled debut single, “Don’t Get In My Face.”  “Love Child” sends an important message on balancing love relationships and raising children.  The cover material is few on Thought You Knew, but the updated take on “Love Jones” (a duet with S. Murray) pays the ultimate compliment to the original version by composer Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson in 1980.  The classic club music loyalists will flock to “Mistified;” plus other previously released singles such as “This Will Be My Night” and the dance floor smash driven by Belgium DJ Kid Crème, “The Game.”

As a whole, Thought You Knew is a commendable effort.   If there were a downside, I wish she could ease up a little on the disco and house mixes and concentrate more on her strongest asset – her exquisite voice.  There is supposedly a second disc in waiting, in which her fans could hear even more of her musicality.  Just in case you want to know, Bashiyra absolutely lives up to her name dropping glad tidings and joy, both on and off the stage. 

Peggy Oliver

The Urban Music Scene