So many artists today claim to be progressive, but Shelley Nicole’s blaKbüshe are the living, breathing embodiment.  Shelley Nicole is equal parts vocalist, songwriter and bassist making blaKbüshe it’s own mash-up.  Imagine Nona Hendryx meets Black Sabbath or Janis Joplin meets Grace Jones and there you will find the blaKbüshe experience. It is a blend best described by Shelley Nicole as SolaRoc; combining elements of rock, funk, soul and beyond. blaKbüshe has been called reminiscent of the Soul/Pop recording group Labelle. Even Labelle member Sarah Dash agrees saying, “blaKbüshe is not to be overlooked.”

Since Shelley Nicole’s arrival on the New York music scene, she founded Red Butterfly Music the label through which she released her debut album, she who bleeds…. Her band, blaKbüshe has performed at hot spots all over New York City, the U.S. and Europe including the Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom, B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, The Blue Note, New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), World Café Live (Philadelphia), Endenu (Atlanta), Genghis Cohen (L.A.) and the Mau Mau Bar (London). 

Before putting her band together, Shelley Nicole released “Being Me” (1998) on Imani/King Street Records. The song topped charts in London and received critical acclaim in New York, Europe and Japan’s dance music scene. Club DJs still spin “Being Me” and “Dance (Flying Home),” which is on her current album she who bleeds….  Shelley’s latest single “blaK Girls” from her forthcoming album is featured in the documentary film U People as well as on the soundtrack. This song is destined to be an anthem for Black women in particular and all women in general around the world. Her London tour helped secure her song “3/4 Shit” on UK 2008 release Jazz Re:freshed Vol. 1 compilation.

The Village Voice calls Shelley Nicole’s blaKbüshe “an ingenious musical evolution.”  Author and Associate Professor of Black Popular Culture at Duke University Mark Anthony Neal says, “On she who bleeds… Nicole created a vibrant synthesis of Rock and Jazz, which ultimately aimed to tweak the staid sensibilities of both mainstream America and the gatekeepers of African-American culture and identity.” 

Get ready to experience a musical revolution.  Get ready for blaKbüshe!