Ava Leigh – Reggae’s Summer Princess



Posted: Monday, September 15, 2008

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Young British female artists remain true to form as the new vanguards in the revival and rejuvenation of musical genres that have to compete with pop, hiphop and R&B for radio airplay. A few years back, it was Joss Stone and her barefoot performances giving new life to soul. Then it was Amy Winehouse, literally saying, “No!" to rehab but yes to the new fans of pop-funk. Now reggae has its new potential torchbearer in sultry yet sunny-faced Ava Leigh.

The 22 year-old singer from Chester started imbibing her musical influences at the age of 14, soaking in dub and reggae tunes while performing for her school swing jazz band. After toying around with several other musical genres, she finally found her heart in reggae, and reggae found her. Maybe you can credit legendary reggae/drum and bass duo Sly & Robbie with helping Ava find her music, but you can’t discount the fact that her mom was a Jamaican-music lover herself. She’s also worked with UK soundmen Futurecut and Nick Mannaseh, all having helped her put together her first album.

Ava’s first unsigned album, “Turned-On Underground," parlays relatable themes like everyday hum-drum routines (Same Old Thing) and fun romance (Mad About The Boy) into reggae tunes that deserve some play on your music player, especially if you’re getting ready for a summer getaway. Ava describes her lyrical style: “I write lyrics about me and my friends’ own personal experiences and I just love songs that everyone can relate to, and that will always remind them of the moment they first heard it. I want to make memories."

The rhythms are definitely reggae, if not the usual one-drop beat of classical reggae, but they’re fused with a fresh, sexy, almost pop-like , which is distinctively Ava’s. Just as Sly & Robbie continuously reinvent reggae by infusing their own musical genius and elements of other genres to bring a modern type of reggae, Ava brings her youthful energy and exuberance even to “classic" tunes, helping to bring a lighter, fun, sexy feel to the music. You only need to hear her rendition of the classic Brazilian bossa song “Mas Que Nada" to appreciate her talents. The people of NEXT UK surely do, having contracted her to sing “Mas Que Nada" for their most recent advertisement.

If you’re not yet convinced by corporate recognition, then maybe “Superstar" recognition will. Ava is fresh off frontlining a series of performances by Grammy Award-winner Lupe Fiasco in three UK venues, garnering public exposure and a few good reviews. The question is not whether she will get to play a major gig of her own but when. Right now, she’s just released her first single, “Mad About The Boy" under Virgin Records. It’s currently available on iTunes, along with her version of “Mas Que Nada."

Ava Leigh might come from a different island from the birthplace of reggae, but it doesn’t mean she’s a poseur artist. She takes the genre to heart, and lends her own heart to it as well, giving us a new sound that more people can relate to enjoy. And you don’t have to wear dreadlocks or smoke up to appreciate it.

For more infomation about Ava Leigh go to http://www.avaleigh.co.uk/

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