Dominican singer eyes global market with new album

Roseau, Monday December 23, 2013: After five years, Dominican musical ambassador Michele Henderson returns with her latest  musical endeavour- Home (Chez Moi); a world music album she plans to promote to global markets via online distributor Believe Digital.

A combination of the first and last song titles, the album fulfills a the two-fold purpose of highlighting her birthplace Dominica as well as the romantic ballads that she is well-known for.

“I wanted this project to be something that reflected me, my style, not just me in Dominica and where I live,” said Michele.

She further explained, “Home” was a song written in tribute to my country that reflected its beauty, its people and “Chez Moi” is a love song that draws somebody in and welcomes you into their space.”

Roland Delsol Jr., Michele’s husband, manager and producer of the project, described the album as a “labor of love” which manifested with the contributions from multiple musicians.

“We tried something different this year, we decided to use as many different musicians and arrangers as we could possibly find in terms of the time and the music we present,” Delsol said.

Artistic contributions came from Dominican music arrangers (Brent Samuels, Donavan Gabriel, Leon St. Jean, Earlson Matthew, Kendel Laurent) and their counterparts from Martinique (Phillippe Joseph of Kassav and Ronald Rulle), and Guadeloupe (Jacques Camara).  Guitarists Jerry Moulon and Ordel Hamilton, percussionist Alain Dracais and bassist Roland Delsol Jr contributed musical talent. The music was produced at Audio Solutions Inc Studios in Dominica and mixed and mastered in Martinique at Heureka Studio.

The 13-track “Home ‘Chez Moi’” will have a prolonged release during 2014 with the digital release of four songs every three months via online distributors, Believe Digital. Each launch will include a music video culminating with the hard copy release of the album CD just in time for the 2014 Independence celebrations.  The first four releases are “Home,” “Mr. Right,” “2B Lonely” and “Mizik La.”

Business development officer at the OECS Export Development Unit, Sobers Esprit said the album will be an “exciting product for this music market”.  His organization contributed funds used for the recording- studio time and musicians.

An accomplished flautist, Michele has displayed her vocal and musical abilities at global events including St. Lucia Jazz Festival, Roskilde Festival in Demark, UCLA Jazz and Reggae Festival in California and the World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) in her native Dominica.

Nathalie Clarke, events director of the Dominica Festivals Committee (the organizers of the WCMF) commended Michele for recording an album of “standards so high that our value is seen across the planet.”

Michele’s previous albums include 2000’s Michele Henderson, Creole Special Live and Sound Check –both released in 2002, Mwen lnme’w 2004 and re-released two years later.  Sa Kai was released in 2008.

Home (Chez Moi) is available at www.michelemuzic.com