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she illuminates itshe illuminates it

this is dirty jazz

“It’s mending the fictitious rift between what we listen to 

…and what we long to hear.”
About MP3 Sales
the dawn's rise ep
$6.00
iTunes
the dawn's rise ep
all singles: 
melody and lyrics: niki andré
leads and back ups: niki andré
master: scott lake @ metalworks
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]-->
the dawns rise singles: 
music: denzil remedios and niki andré 
guitars, bass, keys and programming:denzil remedios 
additional guitars: roger sader 
produced by niki andré 
engineered, recorded and mixed by denzil remedios at gold mine studios.
 
the first light (debut) singles: 
music: stan stapor and niki andre 
guitars, bass, keys and programming: stan stapor 
piano, organ and strings: ron lapata 
drums: ron enross 
produced, recorded and mixed by stan stapor at summit studios 


Credits
Play all
1. Lost Girl Play Download
Lost Girl
Lost Girl


I lie awake breathing toxic fumes in someone else’s room.

I lie awake breathing toxic fumes can’t sleep.

I lie awake breathing toxic fumes in someone else’s room.

I lie awake breathing toxic fumes can’t sleep. 

 

And even when my eyes do close,

(I) Can’t find no rest.

This ain’t my home.

 

Cause the knowledge of missing you 

Is a stone around my chest .

And this voice says I’m not trying baby,

But right now breathing is my best.

 

And all at once I wish I didn’t know you at all.

And all at once I wonder if I knew you at all.

And all at once it’s too close and too far a distance to fall,

And all at once I’m lost again.

 

I lie awake breathing toxic fumes in someone else’s room.

I lie awake breathing toxic fumes can’t sleep.

I lie awake breathing toxic fumes in someone else’s room.

I lie awake breathing toxic fumes can’t sleep. 

 

Dreamed we’d make love before the snowflakes fall.

And it’s killing me that it ain’t happened yet.

You’re still out there, I’ve no courage left to call.  

And I wouldn’t have the number if I did.

 

Cause the knowledge of missing you,\What’s the point of knowing if there’s nothing I can do?

Is a stone around my chest.\I can hear you crying but I can’t say I love you.

And this voice says I’m not trying baby,\Some things don’t make sense I fell in love before we met.

And the force of what that means ain’t hit me yet.

 

Cause the knowledge of missing you, - I’m missing you

Is a stone around my chest.

And this voice says I’m not trying baby,

BUt right now breathing is my… best…

 
© Niki Andre
Lyrics
Lost Girl
Credits

 

"first light" re master,   see album credits

Info
Buy MP3 iTunes
2. Clear Play Download
Clear

Clear

 

It’s not safe to walk your, streets at night

Feels like being, she’s an endless fight

And I can’t pretend that faith still lives here

Powers that be now demystify

All that’s left of love is sex and strife

And it’s us and them, I can’t fit in

 

I won’t do what you do...see, see

Be who you do

I won’t see what you do…be, be

When you look at

I’m not who you… see, see, see, see

Clear.

 

 CHORUS:

Heal this

Feel this

I can’t believe what we’ve missed

Steal this

Back from, every “fact” we made a deal with

Cause we’re not and I’m not and we’re not and we’re not…clear

 

I’m not tryna, change the, world today

I just gotta, find a better way

To breathe in this hypocrisy, misogyny and

I’m not tryna, face the, world today

I just wanna run and hide away

And wait for one good man to break through

Make this feel real

Clear

 

CHORUS...

Cause you’re not, and I’m not, and we’re not, and you’re not...clear

 

And I know I d*on’t belong here/ I don’t know if faith still lives here…

Yeah, you’ve made it crystal clear

Anybody?

That I’m never gonna fit here

Still is anybody there?

 

Cause I wanna get away

Gotta get away

Gonna save my May

I’m crying till the day

Dying till the day

It’s clear

 

CHORUS...

Cause you’re not, and you’re not, and you’re not, and you’re not...clear

 

You can’t save me

If you can’t see me

I’m not breathin’

If I’m not feelin’

And please don’t tell me

That I’m not seeing

 

‘Cause you’re not, and you’re not

And you’re not, and you’re not

 ‘Cause you’re not, and you’re not and you’re not

Here

But I still

Pray

For somewhere…

Clear

 

©Niki Andre

 

 

Lyrics
Clear
Credits

see album credits

Info
Buy MP3 iTunes
3. Again Play Download
Again

Again

 

Two strangers meet in the darkness

They should be more than friends

Somewhere they know they’ve met before

But they couldn’t tell you when

 

A rhythm’s running just below the surface

God knows that we must have a deeper purpose

But who has the time to listen for the rhythm?

A million ads have torn us – torn us in a schism

 

That rent is late

AmEx due date

Those shoes on sale

Kelly makes bail

Is my ass it’s best?

Make him scream yes

I missed the train

I’m late a- again,

 

A girl cries out in the darkness

Nightmares surround her bed

She told herself she lo-loved him

But now she’s filled with dread.

 

A rhythm running just below the surface

And God help us this can’t be our only purpose

But who has the strength to listen for the rhythm?

A million lies have torn us in a schism

 

 

CHORUS… And I’m tired of this…And I’m tired

 

 

Heaven, is a place on earth

We’re all waiting for a planet wide rebirth

Listen for the rhythm

Build a bridge across the schism

 

Zombies tryna find their way

Children, ‘member how to pla-ay

 “A million ways to die?”

How many more walk dead alive?

 

CHORUS…And I’m tired…so sick, just tired of this…

 

Before the light, comes darkness

Before inhale, we heave/ are you ready?

peace find me, through his fingers

and make the chasm leave/ Are we ready?

Peace find me through his fingers

Now

 

© Niki Andre

Lyrics
Again
Credits

see album credits

Info
Buy MP3 iTunes
4. Goodbye Play Download
Goodbye

Goodbye

                                                                                   

I got these wings,

Before my breath

And I need to fly away

 

I let you go today

Now I’ll be on my way

‘Cause I was meant to Fly-y-y

I saw my wings today

I’m going on my way

‘Cause I am meant to Fly

You should know that

 

I got these wings

Before my breath

You should know...you should know

And after death, And after death. /…I should know this

I’ll have my wings

If not the rest

If nothings left; if no one else and

 

I let you go today/…I lost my bearings in this…

Now I’ll be on my way/...loneliness but…

‘Cause I was meant to Fly-y-y

I should know that/...I can't do this again

I saw my wings today

I’m going on my way

‘Cause I am meant to Fly

 

‘Cause I got these wings

Before my breath

I should know...I should know

And after death, And after death./ I should know this..

I’ll have my wings

If not the rest

If nothings left; if no one else and

 

Cause I'm much larger than you must've thought me

And if you’re too small, well then this thing is at its end

I’m just not small enough to do heartbreak again

…And, and, all the lies you spinned

 

If you were thinking your could hide from that but keep your bedside warm

Well then you’ll have to think again

Cause you’re still lonely even when you’ve found a friend

This is bye baby

 

‘Cause I got these wings/ …Were you afraid to let me in?

Before my breath

And after this and after this/ …I should know that

I’ll have these wings/…Were you afraid to risk something?

After your bed.

I’m gonna find my way

 

© Niki Andre

Lyrics
Goodbye
Credits

see album credits

Info
Buy MP3 iTunes
5. Baby Girl Play Download
Baby Girl

Baby Girl

 

And this is for my little, and this is for my little, and this is for my little…

And this is for my little, and this is for my little, and this is for my little…

And this is for my little, and this is for my little, and this is for my little…

 

I feel it too

 

Well baby girl, I know you’re watching what I see, I know

They tell you there’s only one way to be, one way to go

It could just make a girl forget that she’s a queen, I know

I can’t imagine how they just don’t grow

 

CHORUS :

Well maybe they don’t know what it’s like to be

Well maybe they don’t know the hurt they do

Well maybe they don’t know that they’re negating me

Maybe they do

 

Well baby girl I know you’re watching what I see, I know

And you’re so young to feel unclean, to feel unseen, I know

Your soul, your voice, your choice don’t show up on their screens at all

I can’t imagine why they just won’t grow 

 

CHORUS

 

Well when you’ve never been told you’re more,

You can believe you’re less.

And when the world tells you less in more,

You might just try that, try that

 

BRIDGE REPEATS…

Baby girl,

 don’t let ‘em, don’t let ‘em,

 break you

Don't let 'em, don't let 'em

wear you out

 

CHORUS

 

Well maybe they don’t know what it’s like to be

I do.

Well maybe they don’t know the hurt they do.

See you.

Well maybe they don’t know that they’re negating me

I do,

I feel it too

 

©Niki Andre

Lyrics
Baby Girl
Credits

see album credits

Info
Buy MP3 iTunes
6. Fly Play Download
Fly

How you like me? And how you like me now?

                                                                               

Mama said,

Hush now

You’re voice ain’t that pretty girl.

And who you think you are?

 

And Boo said 

You ain’t got courage to fly.

Wake up it’s time,

You saw,

Who you

Are.

 

Instrumental

 

Papa said,

The world’s a callous place.

Watch out,

Or else they’ll eat you -

 

And Boo said,

Wake up it’s time,

You saw,

Who you really are

 

And a songbird’s voice,

Grows stronger with negation.

And a lover’s heart,

Insistent with neglect.

And wings don’t forget that they are meant for flying,

Till the moment of their very last breath.

Last breath.

 

Mama said,

Girl you sing too loud. 

You’ll call trouble round.

Don’t want no ears listenin’

Don’t wanna hear how our life is.

 

And Teacher said,

Reach for the stars,

But not too high up little one.

Icarus.

Better yet don’t reach at all

 

 

And if you can’t find me now when everything is burned away. 

And if we can’t rise from ashes then God I’ve really lost my way.

Cause I surrendered everything I had to that old familiar place.

For a path to that new bright and shiny one.

That One.

Sometimes the tears flow\..That One.

Sometimes the tears flow, tears flow. 

Sometimes the tears flow, tears flow. 

Sometimes the tears flow tears flow \And how you like me? And how you like me?

And how you like me now?

 
© Niki Andre
Lyrics
Fly
Credits
"first light" re master
see album credits
Info
Buy MP3 iTunes
7. May Play Download
May

MAY

Can’t wake before dawn again
Start home after light’s faded
This nine to five’s done me in
This is a game you can’t win

Snow mixes with the cleansing rain
Don’t know, can I do this all again
Everything familiar slips away
Can I hold on one more day?

(chorus):
God,
When’s gonna come my May
When’s gonna come my May
When’s gonna come my May, baby
When comes the brighter days?

Black ice looks like frost at four a.m.
Will I find my bearings in the end?
Nothing is what it seems in half-light
Fight to survives worse than flight

(chorus)/w scat bkgs:
Sing,
When’s gonna come my May
When’s gonna come my May
When’s gonna come my May, baby
When comes the brighter days

(bridge):
And this winter’s closing in
I surrender baby
Let the darkness in
Phoenix light your flame
This weight’s too much to bear
By the grace of Spring
Lay your armor down find your way

(chorus)/ w scat bkgs:
Pray.
When’s gonna come my May
When’s gonna come my May
When’s gonna come my May, baby
Take me to brighter days
Take me to brighter days
Moon says the sunrise is near
Take me away
Away...

© Niki Andre

Lyrics
May
Credits

"first light" re master  -   see album credits

Info
Buy MP3 iTunes
8. Live Demo Reel - stream only! Play
Buy All Digital Files for $6.00!


                              

Dear Industry Friends,

ALL "DAWN'S RISE" SINGLES ARE OFFICIALLY FREE FOR DOWNLOAD

The above mp3s  are at the highest quality possible (192kbps) .  Please play them and spread the word.  Sorry, no hardcopies can be mailed... For more on this, please see my letter below. 
Your interest and support is deeply appreciated.  Thank you. Please feel free to contact me by clicking the "contact" button at the top of this page.


This page is also  where I will be posting samples of my songwriter demos in the coming months.


I am registered with SOCAN/ASCAP and affiliated with HFA/CMRRA as well as ACTRA.

While I can still do  phone and local interviews, I am not available for live bookings at this time.

Here are some LINKS YOU CAN SHARE WITH LISTENERS to support

WEB:  http://nikiandre.com  
MySPACE:  http://myspace.com/nikiandremusicthree
CdBABY:  http://cdbaby.com/nikiandre

I also have a FACEBOOK GROUP I'd love your listeners to join

Once again,
Many thanks!
Niki

 

Niki Andre Is Out Of Time

If you listen to the new Dawn's Rise tracks you can actually hear me crying on the records (literally). I actually had to stop recording to go clear my throat of all the feelings I had been holding down. Dawn's Rise is my offering of catharsis to those who just can't believe this is "as good as it gets". Call me a hopeless optimist but I'm convinced that if we re-sensitize, things will heal.

It's been over three years since I quit my job to pursue music full time.  The release of First Light  garnered rotation at over 150 stations worldwide and dozens of glowing industry reviews and last month hits to my website hit almost 15 000.  Not bad for a trial-by-fire, one-woman operation with no label or funding support.* ;)

Unfortunately running my own record label and trying to get the music out has cost me all my savings and a mountain of debt that I just can't continue to sustain.  There is this faithful part of me that keeps insisting that the "big break" is around the next corner.  But reason tells me that it's time to bow out before the collection agencies start to ring.  I am so disheartened  that I couldn't  lift my work to that next level and reach more of you...  I really believe in these songs and everything I've ever written about holding out for what you believe in but I just couldn't make the money work.  I still feel a sense of obligation to get these new songs, which I worked so hard on, out  and I'm still hanging on to the hope that things will turn up if enough people hear my songs.  :)   - Even if I can't afford to personally promote them like before so...

 THE "DAWN'S RISE" SINGLES ARE NOW FREE FOR DOWNLOAD
on my website, MySpace and Last FM. 

Please spread the word to support!

 

"A new comer to the soul scene, Niki André is ready to take center stage.  On her recent release…[S]he makes a powerful impression with her soft voice.  Her lyrics are not watered down for consumption but refreshing and nurturing for the soul." -DJ Junior, aka Bruce Campbell, Urban Music Director, WKDU, Philly

"Niki is a wonderful singer-songwriter with an engaging presence both live and on record. ..[H]er riveting live performance [Future Soul Showcase] in front of over 600 people was memorable as her unique sound and refreshing lyrics resonated with the audience and Toronto urban music lovers…With the right support, Niki has a very real shot at ‘blowing up’ on the national and international scale" - Jude Kelly, Chair, R&B/Soul Committee, 2003-2005 Juno Awards; Former Vice President- Urban Music Association of Canada

“...An intimate quality to her vocals that actually draws the listener close to her music.  Couple that with refreshingly honest lyrics that make sense and tell the story well and you have a budding artist who definitely deserves to grow and flourish." -Cathy Young, Juno Award Winning Artist, Canada

”Niki André's voice comes from her deep heart and is strongly influenced by her blood and brain, finding the right way to put together, perfectly, electric and acoustic, music and words, performing and listening."  - Scazzola Giovanni Pietro, Radio Gold Popular Network, Italy

“She is definitely creating her own niche with her unique style - proving, lyrically and vocally, to be what the industry is lacking.  Her lyrics are as skillful and heartfelt as any artist who’s been around for decades. “ - Heather Douglass, Producer/Co-Host, Soul Perspectives, CKUT 90.3, Montreal, Quebec

 

"Niki has a terrific voice. ..[I] had quite a few calls to the station & sent people to the website. -Jim O'Brien, 101FM, Queensland, Australia

 

"An amazing voice that produces not only a sound but a feeling that you'll want to experience again and again. Niki has managed to create a sound that is both new and innovative as well as much experienced at the same time.” -Terry Neal, 101FM, Queensland, Australia

“This is so totally unfair…You see our station is primarily focused on the rockier end of the musical genre spectrum. But your voice and songs are so compelling that I'm finding a place for them as a slight contrast to our usual sound… "Lost" blew me away from the first verse. "May" is the type of song that grew on me from start to finish. Best wishes and good luck.” - Rick Brown, Music Director, Estrogeneration Radio

 

              “Can handle the complicated things coming her way.”

                                                                            - Ben Margolis, 88.1 WMUC, College Park, MD

 

Niki André is the daughter of a jazz musician and a child of music theatre, whose format-defying blend of Hip Hop, Jazz and Soul has attracted fans worldwide.  Her self-promoted debut, First Light, is catching spins at over 150 stations and shows - from Australia to North America and all across Europe.  This self-proclaimed diva has coined the term "Dirty Jazz" to describe her emotional and improvisational sound.  If you haven't heard of her yet, you will.  First Light has already crept onto college charts and it’s gaining accolades from hosts and DJs around the globe.  Niki has been performing since she was a child and once worked as a studio background vocalist.  She is ACTRA affiliated. Past shows include performances at Revival, Trane, Ciao Edie’s, The Drake and The Urban Music Association of Canada's Future Soul Showcase.  Niki has been invited to showcase at the Bitter End, NYC, headlined at the exclusive Summer Fete in Alys Beach, FL and has been invited back next year.  She was recently invited to speak and showcase at the 3rd Annual, Soul Music Summit in Atlanta Her 2nd release, Dawn’s Rise, is officially released in will be available for download, worldwide, by November 2008.

#7 on CHUO 89.1 (Radio Ottawa, Canada)  

#14 on WQFS's R&B/Soul Chart (90.9 Greensboro, NC) 

70+ weeks in rotation at Ison Live Radio, Australia 

Feature Spotlight Interview: Big City Small World, CBC Radio One, Toronto

Feature Spotlight Interview: Soul Perspectives, CKUT 90.3, Montreal

Feature Spotlight Interview: Best in Live Urban Entertainment, online

                                                              700+ off-stage sale


July 08 avg. website stats: 3704 hits/976 page views per week (almost 15, 000 hits per month)


sonicbids EPK 

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