‘QUEEN MAKEDAH - Spreading Peace through Voice’ OREGON MUSIC NEWS

On June 3rd Queen Makedah releases her new single ‘I Am Shem’ and begins a new chapter in her musical journey of roots and culture music. The ‘I Am Shem’ single is her first collaborative work with the roots production family of Zion I Kings, producers ‘Tippy I’ of I-Grade Records (Midnite), Andrew ‘Moon’ Bain of Lustre Kings (Lutan Fyah) and “Jah D” Goldfine from Zion High Production. The track, featuring Queen Makedah’s signature velvety vocals on lead and the lush background vocal harmonies of Michelle ‘Songbird’ Gordon, tells the story of the mystical journey of the lost tribes of Israel of the African diaspora and is the first single from Queen Makedah’s upcoming album ‘Peace Process’ (2013). ‘I Am Shem’ will be Available June 3rd in various online outlets including Itunes, Cdbaby, Spotify and more! (Copyright Queen Makedah/Leo Powell/Zion I Records, published by Oriyah Music 2013).

BIOGRAPHY: QUEEN MAKEDAH serves up conscious and inspiring lyrics in a unique musical blend, fusing velvety soul vocal harmonies to muscular roots reggae riddims, spiced with delicious flavors of soul, jazz, r&b and middle eastern music.

Since touring the US, Queen Makedah has pleased thousands of festival goers as she joined the line-up of some of the most popular reggae and world music festivals in the world, including the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (SNWMF), the Northwest World Reggae Festival (NWWRF) and the Monterey Bay Reggae Fest (MBRF), sharing the stage with reggae greats like Don Carlos, Sister Carol, the Twinkle Brothers, The Rastafarians, Winston Jarrett, Rootz Underground, Bambu Station and Groundation at their much celebrated 2011 Marcus Garvey Tribute Celebration at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz.

This summer, Queen Makedah will return to the music scene to give her fans a new dose of healing music featuring songs from her upcoming album ‘Peace Process,’ including the New Single ‘I Am Shem’ (June 3rd, Oriyah Music), ‘Lay Down Your Guns,’ ‘Harder dem Come,’ ‘Suspicious,’ ‘Heal the Earth,’ ‘Black and Lovely,’ and more plus old favorites!

This Spring, Queen Makedah toured with Empress Meditations - Women for Peace showcase, featuring Queen Makedah, Irae Divine, Razteria and Sol Atash backed by the Fyah Squad band. The tour is unique and exciting, delivering reggae and world music influences from all over the globe in 6 different languages. In honor of International Women's Month, March 2013, Empress Meditations brought the Women for Peace tour to Northern and Central California, including Sebastapol, Nevada City, Santa Cruz, Monterey and Pacifica. A portion of the proceeds from the tour went to benefit the Oakland based charity, A Safe Place, for victims of domestic violence. You can catch Queen Makedah and Empress Meditations at this year’s NORTHWEST WORLD REGGAE FESTIVAL (July 27th weekend, visit www.nwwrf.com for details). The lionesses are creating a buzz and Empress Meditations will release its first single entitled ‘Boom,’ (No for an Answer) this summer. (Check empressmeditations.com for updates, tour schedule, bookings and more information).

BACKGROUND: Born and raised in the midst of Kansas City’s historic 18th and Vine Street Jazz District – home of the legendary alto-sax player Charlie Parker – QUEEN MAKEDAH’S role models were singers like Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin. Inspired by such vocal trailblazers, the talented young songstress won a recording contract by age 16.

As a youth during the turbulent 70’s in America, Queen Makedah’s passion for reggae music was kindled by the truth and rights message and revolutionary sound of the legendary Bob Marley and The Wailers, backed by the soulful harmonies of the I-Three’s, reggae queens Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths and Rita Marley

A long time citizen of Israel, Queen Makedah’s music and message has come full circle, giving a soulful voice to the roots and kulcha message of healing, world peace and brotherhood runnin’ steady throughout roots reggae music.

QUEEN MAKEDAH MUSIC can be purchased at Cdbaby.com, Ebreggae.com or Itunes.com.

BOOKINGS CONTACT Oriyah Music at Phone: 510.375.3416 or queenmakedah@gmail.com or visit www.queenmakedah.com for more information.

For INTERVIEWS, JINGLES, DUBPLATES INQUIRIES contact Amanda Amid, Royal Management, Phone: 415.878.6468. E-mail: QueenMakedahMusic@gmail.com.