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Reggae Singer-Songwriter ANNICIA BANKS Seizes the Spotlight with the Release of Her Debut UP FRONT EP Through Raw Vue Music!
UP FRONT includes a collaboration with the late and legendary Bob Andy, and as the first single a cover of the Dennis Brown hit “Love Has Found Its Way” featuring original saxophonist Dean Fraser
For Booking inquiries please contact: peter@kingsmusicintl.com
ANNICIA BANKS is a reggae singer-songwriter from Kingston, Jamaica. She has toured the Caribbean, United States, Asia, Africa, and Europe, using the dulcet tones of her voice to provide background support for internationally acclaimed reggae artists Judy Mowatt (of I-Threes fame), Bunny Wailer (original member of The Wailers), Sister Carol, and the legendary “Crown Prince of Reggae” Dennis Emmanuel Brown.
ANNICIA BANKS has finally seized the spotlight with the release of her debut solo UP FRONT EP, released in stores and online March 5, 2021. The EP introduces her own original songs, including a collaboration with the late and legendary Bob Andy, and as the first single a cover of the Dennis Brown hit “Love Has Found Its Way” featuring original saxophonist Dean Fraser released online February 5, 2021.
For more information about ANNICIA BANKS please visit: www.RawVueMusic.com
“Annicia showcases her amazing voice with a nice mixture of soul and reggae with such other tracks as Jamaica Forever, Hush, Restore My Soul and so much more. This album also features an amazing performance, great songwriting talent and a superb recording. This is an album you need to add to your reggae library.”
-Oasis Entertainment Blog
“One of many classics in the Dennis Brown catalogue, “Love Has Found its Way” is a favourite among his fans. They include singer Annicia Banks who recently covered the song. Her version, produced by Raw Vue Music, was released in February. Brown, who died in July 1999, would have turned 64 on the 1st of that month.”
-Howard Campbell, Jamaica Observer
“Singing her songs of freedom, Kingstonian queen of dancehall stands up to be counted. Annicia Banks spent a lot of time on-stage to guarantee the success of the results of her visit to the studio whence the islander emerged with six originals and one cover which are bound to firmly establish this artiste on the scene.”
-Let It Rock, DMME.net
Listen to Annicia Banks "Up Front" via Bandcamp:
Congratulations to Annicia Banks and Raw Vue Music for the featured listing of the new “Up Front EP” on iTunes, and for making it to #7 on TOP ALBUMS!
“Delightful in it’s difference, this is a smoking set that announces the arrival of a talent that’s been hiding in plain sight for way too long. Simply smoking.”
-Midwest Record Entertainment Blog
To order or stream the new single “Love Has Found Its Way,” a cover of the Dennis Brown hit featuring original saxophonist Dean Fraser, please visit:
https://smarturl.it/AnniciaBanksLHFIW
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
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ANNICIA BANKS FACEBOOK
RAW VUE MUSIC WEBSITE
ANNICIA BANKS
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Up Front
(RAWVUE) www.rawvuemusic.com
Massachusetts-based singer Annicia Banks was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and has supplied backing vocals for such big reggae names as Bunny Wailer, Judy Mowatt, and Dennis Brown. These have all left their marks on Annicia’s debut release, which contains plenty of reggae in a pre-digital revolution style. ‘Jamaica Forever’ is a song of praise for the island, but it has a tough roots sound and the DJ King Kohai in support, whilst ‘It’s You’ is a fine love song grounded in day-to-day realities. Dennis Brown’s ‘Love Has Found Its Way’ nods both to early 70s Philadelphia sweet soul and the UK sound of Lover’s Rock – it also features saxman Dean Frazer, who played on Brown’s original. ‘Hush’ has a tough roots reggae sound akin to The Twinkle Brothers, ‘It’s Too Late’ nods towards early 80s reggae, and Bob Andy supplies and appears on the bright-sounding ‘Free, Free, Free’ (some may recall him from hitmakers Bob & Marcia) though it is Dennis Brown’s influence most clearly heard on Annicia’s singing here. ‘Restore My Soul’ is beautifully sung reggae-gospel, a fine close to a very listenable set of Jamaican sounds.
Norman Darwen
UP FRONT was featured in the April 2021 print issue of RNR MAGAZINE!
Click here to read the UK VIBE review of UP FRONT!
“Her new UP FRONT EP is also her first! It’s a shocking revelation when considering the power, quality and aesthetics of her voice. Annicia Banks showcases a treasure trove of talent with the release of this long-anticipated solo effort on the Raw Vue Music label. A vital release that certainly addresses issues of under-representation of women Reggae vocalists.
The first single, a cover of the Dennis Brown song “Love Has Found Its Way” featuring original saxophonist Dean Fraser, is such a steaming version that you want to keep it on the deck for several rewinds. Annicia paying respect to the original version, soars vocally in her own way, gliding over some great harmonies on the latter part of the song. The version would have made Dennis proud and it’s certainly the best one I have ever heard of this classic Reggae song.
Annica Banks is not only stunningly impressive as a vocalist, she also shines with some great songwriting, particularly on the powerfully rootsy song ‘Hush.’ She actually sings from the soul over a considerable vocal range and does it naturally, no gimmicks, no auto-tune. We look forward to a full-blown LP out later this year.”
-Haji Mike, UK Vibe
“Annicia Banks, who has made a name for herself in the reggae music world, is about to release her professional solo debut. The EP is called Up Front, and the songs gathered on the recording are both personal and heartfelt, showcasing carefully curated covers of classic tunes and new songs from artists she used to tour the world with."
-John Soltes, Hollywood Soapbox
Click here to read the Hollywood Soapbox interview with Annicia Banks!
For more information about ANNICIA BANKS and UP FRONT please visit:
www.RawVueMusic.com
To order UP FRONT on digital services please visit:
https://smarturl.it/AnniciaBanksUpFront
To order the “Love Has Found Its Way” single on digital services please visit:
https://smarturl.it/AnniciaBanksLHFIW
To order UP FRONT on Bandcamp please visit:
https://anniciabanksmusic.bandcamp.com/album/up-front
FOR BOOKING PLEASE CONTACT:
PETER WARDLE
KINGS MUSIC INTERNATIONAL
(510) 326-8445
peter@kingsmusicintl.com
OFFICIAL ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
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