Artist Name: Avion Blackman
Birth Name: Avion Blackman
Birth Place and Date: The 30th of January
Official Bio
From Trinidad and Tobago comes Avion Blackman with a sound described as a breezy blend of organic roots reggae with echoes of folk, R&B and neo-soul. This award-winning artist is currently on an extensive world tour in promotion of her third album, "Third World Girl." It's the Wailers meet Sade with an urban flare! With stunning lyrical and vocal sincerity, Avion brings forth emotional songs steeped in ethnic textures pleasing to the ears and satisfying to the soul.
"Swimming with alligators sounds a lot more dangerous than it really is," said Avion (while twisting her dreads and describing her adventurous days as a tomboy living in a tropical rainforest with 17 brothers).
Born in the bustling city of San Fernando, Trinidad, Avion lived in luxury as a daughter of the famous calypsonian, Lord Shorty. As a young dreadlocked child, she was very outgoing and began singing on stage in front of massive crowds at the tender age of four. That year, her life drastically changed when on a spiritual quest, her father transplanted his massive family to the jungle.
SWIMMING WITH ALIGATORS
She spent the next twenty years living in the jungle seven rugged miles from the remote Indian village of Piparo. Their home was in a hand-built log cabin with no plumbing or electricity and few groceries--but plenty of music. She was home schooled with her brothers and sisters, and her family lived primarily off the land--growing virtually everything that they ate. Their days were filled with Bible studies, intense rehearsals, various tour dates and regular performances for curious visitors. As a child in this modern day Robinson Caruso-like family, Avion loved climbing trees, swinging from vines, fishing, and of course; swimming (with alligators).
Avion learned the art of harmony while touring and singing chorus for her father, who later took on the name Ras Shorty I after his conversion to Christianity. He was the inventor of Soca, (the pulse of Carnival) and Jamoo music. She learned how to play a number of instruments from many of her 24 brothers and sisters. At the age of fourteen she began playing bass for the family band, "The Love Circle". Her first solo studio recordings were "Oh Why" and "So Free", for The Love Circle's "Children of the Jamoo Journey" release. Years later, she recorded the initial versions of "Sweet Love" (for their "Homegrown" album) and "Heaven Above" (for Lion of Zion's "The Gathering" project).
In 2002 Avion met Mark Mohr, the founder and lead vocalist of Christafari when he was teaching a seminar on the music industry in Trinidad. A year and a half later, and after many trips back and forth, the two wed in Los Angeles, CA. By then, Avion had become an integral part of Christafari on bass and vocals. She became well- known internationally for her ethereal voice on Christafari's "Hiding Place" and "My Sustenance" on the group's critically acclaimed Gravity release. In 2004 Christafari began recording "Reggae Sunday School," a children's album that featured Avion on lead vocals and bass. It was during these early recording sessions that Avion's husband/producer felt inspired to start recording his wife’s solo album. Something This was something that she was initially very reluctant to do.
ONYINYE
The end result was Avion’s freshman release, "Onyinye" (pronounced owe-neen-yay). "Onyinye" means "gift" in the Nigerian Igbo language Igbo. It was a family affair as Avion, her husband and other members of the family wrote the infectious tracks that made up this musical masterpiece. The subtle world music influences from this native Trinidadian added spice to this uniquely flavored album. It was during these sessions that her distinct sound was defined: Avion's songs are stripped back to their essential elements (voice, melody, and meticulously arranged instrumentation); resonating in the heart and in the head long after the last note has fallen silent.
In 2006 Avion Blackman took the top honor at the Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards held in Nassau, Bahamas. She was nominated for a total of nine awards. The biggest upset of the night came when Avion won the Album of the Year category, the evening's highest award for her culturally sensitive masterpiece "Onyinye." Blackman was considered by many as the dark horse in the evening's top race and became the first non-Jamaican to win the category. She also won the Marlin Award for Contemporary Female Vocal Performance of the Year for her soft melodic ballad "Marvelous Beauty" and picked up a third Marlin for Packaging of the Year for "Onyinye."
SWEET LIFE
In 2008 Avion released her highly anticipated sophomore project, "Sweet Life." This time around this staple member of the group Christafari paid tribute to her Caribbean heritage with an offering that was decidedly more reggae. On this project Avion's soothing songs on love and relationships are truly inspirational and brimming with honesty. Avion's smile and spirit shine through her music as she sings sunny songs of hope and faith over reggae infused soulful ballads. She won "Best Female Vocal" at the Marlin Awards for the song "Sweet Life."
The mega hit of the album was "Yeshua"--a song that Christafari still closes their concert with every night. Over the last five years, Avion has performed relentlessly on a co-billed tour with Christafari. She's performed around 100 shows a year in 36 different countries and sang before crowds as large as 80,000!
THIRD WORLD GIRL
Last February, Avion Blackman and her husband headed off to Hawaii for a month of inspiration. Their mission was to write and record a new song every day. Whenever they got stuck on a verse, they'd go snorkeling, sightseeing or head off to another island!
What started off as demo sessions ended up being the final recording. In just a month, all the songs were written and they'd even filmed a music video for the title track amidst jungles and waterfalls on the Big Island. Getting away from home and being surrounded by God's creation and beautiful people ended up being the perfect muse for this husband and wife production team. The end result was "Third World Girl," Avion Blackman's third solo album offering.
What sets this production apart from the previous two award-winning albums is the island influence. While the songs may vary from roots reggae to ska, hip-hop to dancehall, and even venture into soul/R&B and dubstep, many of the songs are also seasoned with a dash of Hawaiian Island flavor.
Heading off to Hawaii was just what the doctor ordered as the couple was still going through the healing process after a painful miscarriage. They worked through their hurt with prayers and through pen and paper with beautiful melodies. While the project touches on a variety of subjects from worship to relationships, a unifying theme throughout the album is healing. "Third World Girl" is chocked full of songs of hope and encouragement for broken lives. It has uplifting words and hope-filled melodies that usher the listener into forgiveness and restoration. Speaking of hope, Avion is expecting and the two are very excited about having their first child!
"This album is about how the Lord can take broken and fragmented lives and turn them into a beautiful mosaic. We can all become a work of beauty under the artful hands of God."--Avion Blackman
Exclusive Interview with GospelReggae.com
1. (GospelReggae.com): Avion, can you give us your brief testimony?:
Avion: At the age of four my parents got saved, so they brought me and my siblings up in the way of Christianity. But it was really at 14 years old that I personally dedicated my life to Jesus, got baptized and began my spiritual journey.
2. (GospelReggae.com): You mentioned your siblings, I have read that you come from a very large musical family. Can you give us a brief run down of what your brothers and sisters are up to?
Avion: Three of my brother's (Sean, Daniel and Gary) are in Asia playing music, they formed a band by the name Abstract, they've been to India, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and China. I also have four brothers in California; Derek heads up the punk/reggae group Dominion Status. Haile leads two bands, Upstream and Breadfruit Collective and also runs his own sound company, Johnny plays drums for a bunch of groups including Majek Fajek and Sean Penny developing his solo career.
3. (GospelReggae.com): Describe some of your fondest memories as a child:
Avion: Fondest memories, hmmmm… there are lots of them. I had just turn five years old, I remember moving to the jungle with my family, I've been waiting anxiously for that day counting down the days, when we finally move I barely got any sleep that night waiting to see daylight so I can run and roam the jungle. I remember taking my toy bucket and filling it with mangoes, I sat on the bench outside in the bamboo grove sucking the most sweet, juicy, mango ever! I was in heaven!! Later in the evening when it started getting dark, my brother and I went labelle hunting, they are giant flying insects that light up like fire flies. I probably caught a whole jar full that night and used it as a lantern.
4. (GospelReggae.com): Do you have any favorite verses?:
Avion: Psalms 119:9-10, Prov 4:20-27 and James 1:5-8.
5. (GospelReggae.com): How about favorite foods?:
Avion: Ethiopian food. Thai, Trinidad Roti and doubles and fettuccini Alfredo.
6. (GospelReggae.com): What about musical influences?:
Avion: My father (jamoo/soca) African, East Indian music, post modern dub/reggae, and celtic music.
7. (GospelReggae.com): Any hobbies?:
Avion: Spending time with my husband, listening to music, biking, painting, sewing clothes for myself and shopping, I really love to go bargain hunting!
8. (GospelReggae.com): What is the most valuable lesson that you learned from your Mom or Dad growing up, that you still apply today?:
Avion: Trusting in God to provide and not worrying.
9. (GospelReggae.com): If you could share the stage with any Christian or secular artist in the world (living or dead) who would it be?:
Avion: Zap Mama
10. (GospelReggae.com): What Bible character do you most identify yourself with?:
Avion: Esther. That was my favorite story growing up.
11. (GospelReggae.com): What do you most about touring and what goes through your mind before you go onstage at an average show?:
Avion: I love seeing new place's. I enjoy knowing that I'm doing this for God and hanging with the band member's they are my best friends! Before I go on stage I pray that someone would get saved, or be encouraged in their spiritual walk. I also pray to God that I will play well--which make's me a bit anxious.
12: (GospelReggae.com): Why do you do music? What is your primary goal?:
Avion: Because It's in my blood--running through my veins and in my soul. Because it's so much apart of me, I choose to do it for a higher purpose--that purpose is God.
Ministry
"Onyinye, (pronounced 0we-neen-yay), means Gift in Igbo, which is a Nigerian language. On this album I sing un-compromising lyrics about the greatest gift of all--Life eternal through Jesus Christ alone."--Avion
On "Sweet Life," I unapologetically sing about the sweetest life of all --the abundant and eternal life that is freely given to those who place their faith in Jesus Christ." Avion
Discography
Gospel Reggae Praise, Christafari and Friends (2011)
Majestic Heights, Christafari (2011)
Dubshots, Christafari and Friends (2011)
Avion Blackman, Third World Girl (2011)
Sherwin Gardner, Relentless (2011)
Jennifer Howland, Daughter of the King (2010)
Geneman, Long Time (Background Vocals) (2010)
Reggae Revolution Mixtape, Various (2010)
Christafari, No Compromise (2009)
Avion Blackman, Sweet Life, Lion of Zion Ent. (2008).
Christafari and Friends, Reggae Redemption Songs II, Lion of Zion Ent. (2008)
Avion Blackman, Onyinye, Lion of Zion Ent. (2005).
Mark Mohr and Christafari, Reggae Sunday School, Lion of Zion Ent. (2005.
Mark Mohr and Christafari, Gravitational Dub (Destination: Dub Central Station), Lion of Zion Ent. (2005).
Various Artists, The Gathering - Trinidad & Tobago, Lion of Zion Ent. (2004).
Mark Mohr and Christafari, Gravity, Lion of Zion Ent. (2003).
The Love Circle, Home Grown, Jamoo GoodNews Ltd. (2003).
Various Artists, Trinidad World Music, Rituals Music (2000).
The Love Circle, Jamoo Victory, Jamoo GoodNews Ltd. (1999).
The Love Circle, Children of The Jamoo Journey, Jamoo GoodNews Ltd. (1999).
The Love Circle, Watch Out My Children, Jamoo GoodNews Ltd. (1989) Out of Print.
Other Artist Merchandise
Concerts
There are currently no upcoming events listed.
Contact / Booking:
Booking:
POSITIVE MUSIC AGENCY
USA: (310) 539-9009
E-mail: mark{at}positivemusicagency.com
Site: http://www.positivemusicagency.com
Positive Music Agency
1942 259th Place
Lomita, CA, 90717, USA
Official EMail:
jamoodesigns{at}aol.com
Official Website:
http://www.avionblackman.com
|
|
Photos
|
