Listen/Stream HERE: https://smarturl.it/xDawn
What the Press is Saying About Yebba:
“Yebba’s Stunning ‘Dawn’ Marks the Belated Arrival of a One-in-a-Million Singer.”
“…prodigiously talented …gifted…to their immense credit, she and Ronson have managed to create songs and arrangements that showcase her as one of the most powerful and versatile singers to come along in many years…exceptional talent is at work.” — Variety
“Stunning” – Billboard
“’Dawn’ doesn’t sound like the debut of a burgeoning pop sensation hopping onto trends. The album has a rich retro palette, draws deeply from jazz and R&B and is set in a dusky register that gives Yebba’s flexible voice room to roam.” — The New York Times
“To say Yebba has a good voice would be a devastating understatement. Her voice, simply put, is shocking, and echoes the talent and prowess of otherworldly musical icons…that came before her. It’s absolutely arresting, as painful as it is pleasing in its ability to enunciate every syllable of every word, leaving no room for the romanticization of tragedy.” – Harper’s Bazaar
“The one-in-a-million voice destined for the spotlight…Not since Amy Winehouse has there been a voice like this…‘Dawn’ [her debut album]… will make her a star’ – Daily Telegraph (UK)“…a song that’s been haunting my ears (‘October Sky’)…a master class in conveying complex emotions.”- NPR
“She has the range…Her daring vocals leap from …falsetto to sultry, guttural contralto. Her delivery defies convention.” – Pitchfork
“(Her debut album) is from start to finish the most incredible body of work and will be one of those albums that will travel with you for the rest of your life.… Really special… Embrace it, enjoy it, it will bring so much joy to your life.” – Zane Lowe, Global Creative Director and Host, Apple Music
“…listening to Dawn for the first time was experiencing a true work of art. Her vivid storytelling and wide vocal range allow her to express her emotions so beautifully.”
“Without question, ‘Dawn’ will make her a star.” – Glamour
“Yebba’s debut album Dawn, this drop is pivotal to the neo-soul canon, emotionally driven, and sonically it’s one of the best projects you will hear this year.” – Okayplayer
“Yebba has a distinct voice with range reminiscent of several soulful greats. Think Amy Winehouse meets Whitney Houston. She floated through the industry, making ripples in the tides, and now the 26-year-old is crashing into the shore like a tsunami to wake those who’ve slept on her and grant those who’ve witnessed her rise to bask in the moment.” — VIBE
“A soulful treasure.” – CLASH
“Incredible vocal talent…”- Earmilk
“generation-defining and defying talent.” – Ones To Watch
(New York – September 10, 2021) Today, Grammy winning singer/songwriter/arranger/producer Yebba releases her highly anticipated debut studio album Dawn via RCA Records.
Listen/Stream HERE:
https://smarturl.it/xDawn
Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe winning musician and producer Mark Ronson produced the album, and other key collaborators include Questlove, the Roots, A$AP Rocky, KAYTRANADA, Pino Palladino, Smino, James Francies, Smokey Hormel and many more. The album was recorded at New York City’s Electric Lady Studios.
Her album title Dawn has dual meaning — Dawn is the name of Yebba’s mother who she lost to suicide. Dawn also refers to the first glimpse of light in the sky after the darkness of night, offering a radiant sense of possibility with her debut album.
Yebba’s talent is also spotlighted on Drake’s just-released album Certified Lover Boy on “Yebba’s Heartbreak,” declared “gorgeous” by Rolling Stone. Listen HERE.
Earlier this week, she released “All I Ever Wanted,” a song she performed on her NPR Tiny Desk Concert along with album tracks “Stand,” “Distance” and “How Many Years.” Her Tiny Desk performance and latest track releases this week alone are blowing up Instagram, with Yebba receiving an outpouring of love from notable fans including Taraji P. Henson, Jacob Collier, Brandi Carlile, Justin Timberlake, John Mayer, Hailey Baldwin, India.Arie, Sam Smith, Ledisi, Julia Michaels, Jojo, and the list goes on. You can check out some of the adoration HERE.
Her latest single “Boomerang” was written by Yebba with Tommy Brenneck(Sharon Jones &The Dap-Kings, Mark Ronson, Panic! At The Disco) and Ilsey Juber (Miley Cyrus, Mark Ronson, Lykke Li) and produced by Tommy Brenneck and Mark Ronson. The video for “Boomerang” was directed by award-winning photographer and director Francesco Carrozini (Jay-Z/Beyoncé/Lenny Kravitz) who also lensed Yebba’s previous videos for “October Sky (Live)” and “Louie Bag.”
Previous single “Louie Bag feat. Smino” was co-written by Yebba, Smino, Q-Tip, and James Francies and produced by Yebba and Mark Ronson, Fadercalls the track “instrospective” and Billboard points out “her untouchable vocal skills… (and) punchy verse from Smino balances out the Arkansas native’s smooth melodies, the duo forming a musical yin and yang.” UPROXX adds “Led by her soothing vocals and detailing her recent successes and distaste for friends who are ‘talking sh*t for no reason,’ Yebba delivers a track that stands strong on its own but gets a boost with the addition of Smino’s slick verse.”
“October Sky” was released this summer along with an acoustic performance video and was declared “a master class in conveying complex emotions” (NPR) along with love from H.E.R., Justin Timberlake, Brandi Carlile, Zane Lowe,and Mark Ronson, who produced “October Sky” and the album.
Lead single “Distance” was nominated at the 2021 Grammy Awards for “Best Traditional R&B Performance,” and was included on Barack Obama’s annual playlist to extraordinary critical raves. Clash writes: “‘Distance’ is a phenomenal exhibition of Yebba’s dramatic vocal ability.” Rolling Stoneconcurs “Yebba delivers a characteristically stunning vocal performance,” and NPR calls the song “the ultimate exercise in restraint. Fully aware of her ability to vocally run circles around any production, she matches the tenderness of the orchestration and lyrics.” Okayplayer continues “Yebba has become an acclaimed vocalist due to her unforgettable sound.”
About Yebba:
The 26 year old soul singer, songwriter, arranger grew up singing and listening to gospel music, along with arranging and music directing choirs in her hometown of West Memphis, Arkansas. She released her breakthrough video for “My Mind” in 2016. Soon after, she released her first single “Evergreen,” instantly captivating a passionate fan base leading to support and collaborations, including her 2019 Grammy-winning performance with PJ Morton on “How Deep Is Your Love.” This collaboration resulted in her first GRAMMY award for Best Traditional R&B Performance.
Yebba has been a go to collaborator for a-list musical talent. She has performed and collaborated with A Tribe Called Quest (“Melatonin”), Stormzy (“Heavy Is The Head”), Ed Sheeran (“Best Part of Me”), The Robert Glasper Experience (“Fuck Yo Feelings”), Mumford and Sons (“Beloved”),Sam Smith ( “No Peace”), Chance The Rapper(“Same Drugs”), and was the featured vocalist on three tracks from Mark Ronson’s latest studio album Late Night Feelings (“Don’t Leave Me Lonely,” “Knock Knock Knock” and “When U Went Away.”) This year, she collaborated with Lucky Daye’s “How Much Can A Heart Take” and on Drake’s just-released album Certified Lover Boy on “Yebba’s Heartbreak.”
Dawn Track Listing:
01. How Many Years
02. Stand
03. Boomerang
04. All I Ever Wanted
05. Far Away feat. A$AP Rocky
06. Dawn
07. October Sky
08. Louie Bag feat. Smino
09. One More Smile
10. Love Came Down
11. Distance
12. Paranoia Purple
Read Yebba’s bio HERE
Album Credits HERE
Album Lyrics HERE
Listen/Stream Dawn:
https://smarturl.it/xDawn
https://www.instagram.com/yebbasmith/
https://twitter.com/yebbasmith
https://www.facebook.com/YebbaSmith
YouTube
https://www.yebbasmith.com