Joyful Ayo

• 1Down On My Knees04:04
• 2Without You04:00
• 3Letter By Letter03:16
• 4How Many Times?03:32
• 5And It's Supposed To Be Love05:03
• 6Watching You03:56
• 7Only You03:57
• 8Help Is Coming03:59
• 9These Days04:51
• 10Life Is Real04:51
• 11What Is Love?04:29
• 12Neva Been04:19
• 13Welcome Into My World04:25
• 14Complain03:32
• Total Runtime58:14

Info for Joyful

Ayo (her name means 'joy' in Nigerian Yoruba) has been on a careening music biz fast track ever since 2006, when her debut release, Joyful, achieved platinum sales in France and several other European countries. The lovely singer-composer-guitarist-pianist was born in Germany to a Nigerian father and a Romanian Roma (Gypsy) mother and, with her husband and son, now divides her time between Paris and New York. Joyful was produced by Grammy award-winner Jay Newland and recorded in New York City in five days flat, under studio-live conditions. This created a relaxed yet urgently charged ambience that underpins the ebb and flow of all 12 tracks.

Musically, the tunes incorporate diverse quotes from a polyglot life, such as accordion-laced French bal musette, slouchy Afro-Euro reggae, quietly down-and-dirty R & B-influenced organ riffs, Beatles-eque piano chords, plus subtle strings and over all, a moodily suave acoustic guitar. Ayo's girlishly light but spot-on vocals are sung primarily in English with occasional touches of Nigerian pigeon. She speaks of sexual passion hopeless and fulfilled, family, friendships, and philosophical observations both grim and optimistic; these are young songs from an old soul.

The massive success of the present album has led to a television special, Ayo Live in Monte Carlo, which will be aired in the USA on PBS. During it, the young chanteuse performs tunes from Joyful and hobnobs with Princess Stephanie of Monaco, with whom she shares a commitment to children's causes.“ (Christina Roden)

Ayo
German singer Ayo released her first album 'Joyful' in 2006. The record, produced by Jay Newland (Norah Jones, Stevie Wonder) met a huge success in France as well as many other European countries. She released two other albums in 2008 and 2011 before coming back this year with a brand new record. For this album, 'Ticket to the World', also produced by Newland, she has gathered around her some of the most talented musicians (Larry Campbell, Ira Coleman, Charles Haynes,...). Ayo’s new record sounds as a return to her original style: a soft and strong blend of folk and soul, peppered with hip-hop hints.

This album contains no booklet.