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
Bashiyra has taught vocal and songwriting to people of all ages all across her hometown of
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
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