Descended from Ethiopian Royalty, Singer’s Debut is a Killer

Universal Music Group releases the debut single by Sheba Sahlemariam “Love this Lifetime” featuring Bounty Killer



New York, NY – A relative of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, Singer/Songwriter/Producer Sheba Sahlemariam makes her worldwide musical debut with the release of her first single “Love this Lifetime” featuring Bounty Killer. Distributed digitally by Universal Music Group, the single will be available worldwide today, Tuesday September 15, 2009.

While she serves up an edgy brew of Urban, Reggae/Dancehall and African music, Ethiopian born Sheba Sahlemariam calls Reggae music, the spiritual music of Rastafarianism, the glue to her eclectic recipe for her brand of global urban fusion. The serendipitous circumstances that led her family to live in Jamaica, make her connection to Haile Selassie especially significant as he is the most highly regarded religious symbol among Rastafarians and Reggae is the gospel music of the faith. "It's an honor to wave the flag for Rasta, Reggae, Ethiopia, the Lion of Judah... Caribbean music is the first music I heard as a child, and the first music I fell for. It's a chance to bridge between Reggae and Africa in a way that speaks right to my heart."

Sheba Sahlemariam emerged on the scene after her newly recorded song “Love This Lifetime” was spontaneously posted on Youtube and became an instant hit. Within hours, she began receiving requests to send the song to DJ's worldwide. Still unfamiliar with Sheba as an artist, many respectable DJ’s (such as David Rodigan of KISS 100FM in London) put “Love This Lifetime” into their rotations. The popularity of the song inspired Sheba to make it into an official single. She then went back into the studio with infamous dancehall Reggae veteran and superstar, Bounty Killer and remixed “Love This Lifetime” to be released on her forthcoming album ‘The Lion of Sheba’. “Working with Bounty Killer on this Remix was amazing. Few artists can match his natural charisma and energy. What I love most about this record is that it showcases a side of Bounty Killer that is rarely seen: the “War Lord” is a lover too. Anyone that admires his hard-core persona can appreciate that because even the most hardcore dudes fall in love”, said Sheba.

Never having pursued a record deal, Sheba formed her own label, (S)onic Dynasty. Sheba explains, “A few weeks after it went up, it charted on urban radio in London. It also got a lot of spins and press in Ethiopia, and spins in Jamaica. I wanted to maximize on the moment and not wait around for someone to sign me, so we had to figure out how to start promoting it. That led to the Bounty Killer Remix. The fact that Universal Music Group stepped in to distribute the single globally was not something I expected, but now that it's happening I'm realizing that we have a unique opportunity. The internet is allowing us to connect the dots to fans around the world in an unconventional way. The ‘Lion of Sheba’ has been done for a while but I'm writing and recording new tracks all the time, so there is a lot of material coming down the pike. I'm still open to signing with a label, that's always been a part of my dream, but there are so many ways to create fans now that there is no reason not to just go ahead and put out music in the hopes of attracting the right partners.”

Sheba is currently in Jamaica shooting the video for “Love this Lifetime” featuring Bounty Killer with the biggest director in the Reggae/Dancehall market, Jay Will "GAME OVER", who has directed videos for some of the top Reggae artists including Shaggy, Jah Cure, Junior Reid, Mr. Vegas, Beenie Man, M.I.A. and Sean Paul. Many of his previous videos have been placed in major rotation on MTV and BET. Jay Will has won several awards for his work including CVM TV Director of the Year Award in 2006, Best Documentary Award at The Flashpoint Film Festival in 2006 for his riveting portrayal of Jamaica's pulsating Dancehall culture, Video Director of the Year EME Awards 2008, Best Dancehall Video Reggae Academy Awards 2008, Best Music Video IRMWA Awards 2008 and in 2008 The Jamaican Observer named him one of “The 20 Most Influential Persons/Entities In Reggae and Dancehall Music”.

Promo Only, the nation’s largest provider of promotional content is featuring “Love this Lifetime” on their Caribbean Series September 2009 CD alongside some of the biggest names in Reggae, Reggaeton and Urban music including John Legend, Estelle, Wyclef Jean, Serani, Daddy Yankee, Sean Paul and Buju Banton Promo Only CD’s are distributed nationally to professional DJ’s, radio stations, music industry executives and entertainment venues.

Sheba Sahlemariam’s debut single “Love this Lifetime” featuring Bounty Killer will be available on iTunes worldwide on Tuesday September 15, 2009.


On Saturday October 3, 2009, New African Productions presents Sheba Sahlemariam in her first headlining performance at the famed Joe’s Pub in New York City. Tickets and additional information can be found at:
http://www.joespub.com/component/option,com_shows/task,view/Itemid,40/id,4693



About Sheba Sahlemariam:
A refugee from the majestic war-torn land of Ethiopia, Sheba Sahlemariam was reared among the concrete jungles of New York City, Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. Named after the Queen of Sheba, famed empress of Ethiopia, to whom her family traces direct ancestry, Sheba is a cousin to Emperor Haile Selassie, which highlights the serendipitous circumstances that moved her family from Ethiopia to Guyana, where she spent her early childhood and later, Jamaica, which deepened her connection to Reggae and Dancehall, the glue to her global and urban sound. Sheba stirs up a unique musical brew that is a mélange of Reggae grooves, Afro-beat, Ethiopian traditional music and jazz, R&B riffs, 16 bar rhymes, and Dancehall Sing-Jaying --souvenirs from her nomadic life. Sheba’s gorgeous four octave range, soul stirring, provocative lyrics and fierce ability to dial up a diversity of musical styles puts her at the razor’s edge and will expel you from preconceived definitions of urban, pop and world music. Introducing Sheba Sahlemariam, the little lion with the big voice.


www.therealsheba.com
www.myspace.com/shebasahlemariam
www.facebook.com/therealsheba
http://twitter.com/therealsheba