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”The R&B landscape is chockablock with female singers. Today's newcomers--the talented and the wannabes--must work that much harder to get their respective voices heard. On this, her debut, talented Bay Area artist Renee Sebastian shows that she is up for the task.”Billboard Magazine

 

“Renée Sebastian’s second release, Mrs. Sebastian, is jam-packed with creativity and idiosyncrasies. Sebastian’s competent singing weighs down the remaining five cuts which have compelling arrangements and compositions that could give Prince a run for his money. This is a refreshing offering for 2008.” Rolling Out Urbanstyle Weekly

 

“Renee Sebastian dresses the sunny simplicity of classic soul in the slick new duds of radio R&B. She makes accessible songwriting look easy on her new EP, but anyone who has heard even-mediocre R&B knows it isn’t, and will welcome Sebastian’s strong, smooth voice and these expert full-band arrangements.” San Francisco Weekly

 

“Mrs. Sebastian is a valiant first effort, and a testament to her gifts as a songwriter and producer.” East Bay Express

 

Please Break My Heart" a cut from Renee Sebastian's debut album won Renee a place in the Top 5 vocalists  featured in SingerUniverse Magazine whose Advisory Board includes highly respected and acclaimed music industry leaders Walter Afanasieff, Chaka Khan, Jay Landers, Lis Lewis, and Billy Mann.” Singeruniverse Magazine

 

“Her debut album Reneesance is a blend of intimate and revealing ballads and power pop with feminist flair. While she may be drop dead gorgeous, Sebastian prefers people to check out what’s inside. In many ways Sebastian’s music defies classification. Heavily influenced by pop melodies, it also recalls old school soul, rock and R&B.”  The Los Angeles Independent Newspaper

 

“Once listeners have experienced the eclectic and harmonious vibe that Sebastian effortlessly transports with her honey-tongued vocals and melodic beats, one will quickly discern what all of the frenzy is about.” Garage Band

 

“She possess the fierce triple threat of talent, attractiveness and intelligence. Renee’s debut is nothing short of remarkable. Renee’s debut is nothing short of remarkable. Aptly entitled, Reneessance, a potent mixture of charming sentimentality, heroic feminism and the dawn of new beginnings, this collection of rhythmic poetry is all about transformation.” EUR Web

 

“Newcomer Renee Sebastian makes a strong splash on the "most added" chart with her debut single "Deliciously Dangerous," not only for Top 40 but for AC40 as well. Be on the watch for this excellent single and if you are not on it, what are you waiting for” New Music Weekly

 

The Bay Area has supplied the music industry with fresh innovators including The Grateful Dead, Keyshia Cole, Green Day, En Vogue, Goapele, Jennifer Johns, Toni Tony Tone’ and Ledisi who have introduced us to the diverse musical pulse of Northern California, but now vocalist Renee Sebastian is determined to invigorate the R&B/Soul genre with distinctive elements of fluidity and eclectic harmonies on her debut album Mrs. Sebastian, featuring production from multi-talented instrumentalists whose repertoires include work with such prolific artists as 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Leela James, Christina Aguilera, Lauryn Hill, Joss Stone and Meshell Ndegeocello.

 

Her music is a bittersweet and meaningful journey; an honest yet pleasurable exploration to the strength of the soul as well as the beauty of Asian culture. In a homogeneous music society, a beacon of hope has been discovered and brought to light in the form of Renee Sebastian. A refreshingly brazen vixen, with an immaculate and compelling voice unlike any other on the musical landscape. Sebastian is determined to revitalize the music industry with distinctive elements of fluidity including Pop, R&B and Soul harmonies in addition to dazzling the globe with mesmerizing song-writing skills that exude sheer ingenuity. Once listeners have experienced the diverse and harmonious vibe that Sebastian effortlessly transports with her honey-tongued vocals and melodic beats, one will quickly discern what all of the frenzy is about.

 

Sebastian’s music is not lost among the pantheon of new crooners, but instead invokes the spirits of legendary composers-singers such as Roberta Flack, Carole King and Berkeley’s own Meshell Ndegeocello. The 30-something virtuoso respects unadulterated artistry as recognized in her choice of preferred musical tastes including James Taylor, Michael McDonald, Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, Michael Jackson, Sade and Erykah Badu, who provide inspiration to the young ingénue. She’s notable and distinguished for composing her own material as well as making her mark as a naturally gifted pianist without any formal training. From heavy, soulful, quintessential ballads to explosive pop tracks, it's this exhilarating mix that transcends generations and makes Sebastian’s body of work so relevant.

 

Sebastian is a self-described "progressive artist" and creator of the popular NYC soul movement “Blowout Lounge,” while her high-octane shows and musical perfection come natural to this west coast resident. Additionally she is a professionally trained modern contemporary dancer, and by the age of 13 was used to wowing audiences of over thousands in her native island of the Philippines.  Blessed with a combination of exotic good looks and the gift of artistic expression she was encouraged by her teachers to embrace Performing Arts in high school, becoming a member of the Cultural Centers’ Girl Choir in Manila and soon walking out of local talent competitions with an arsenal of accolades. Years later she would move to the Bay Area and train under top vocal coach, Seth Riggs who had orchestrated vocal arrangements for musical legends Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Barbara Streisand, Enrique Iglesias, Natalie Cole and Quincy Jones. Sebastian studied at the illustrious Jazz School at Berkeley, California and has gone on to share the stage with notable artists Eric Roberson, Heavy, and PJ Morton. Renee Sebastian emerges as a prolific, consistently engaging vocalist on the R&B and Soul scene, an elastic talent who moves effortlessly from glossy ballads to hip-hop inspired pop. Her ingenious penmanship won her a Billboard songwriting award for her 2004 hit single "Deliciously Dangerous,” while garnering radio adds nationwide and receiving acclaimed reviews from national trade publications, including an "R&B pick of the week" from Billboard magazine.

 

Now back with her sophomore set Mrs. Sebastian, much like her first effort, this album does not disappoint.  Blending diverse stylistic influences, the charismatic Cali girl is adorning Soul music with new textures and flavors that reflect an artist who is comfortable with who she is and how far she has come. The appellation of her current release is parallel to that of her inimitable personality- bold, urban and passionate.  Soul, Funk, R&B and Rock & Roll are all whipped into this revolutionary series of hit song after hit song.  A true rebirth of soul-tingling and quality music is what the songstress has poetically done with Mrs. Sebastian.  It’s a humble throw forward to the yesteryear musical legends that are ingrained in the fiber of American Music today.  The young chanteuse celebrates that energy and fluently takes her listeners on a journey of finger snapping and head gyrating wondrous grooves laced with an electric blend of instruments that ride each beat with finesse.

 

On Mrs. Sebastian, the songbird raises romance to new heights.  Each track has a beautiful story line and fans will be able to connect with the honesty in the lyrics.  The vocally challenging, “This Is Me” is an R&B, Hip-Hop blend with a soulful but urban edge that boasts a unique chorus while the ballad “Every Lesson,” is a mid-tempo track that explores life lessons. The emotive “These Are The Signs” is a playful mid-tempo jam about the distinction between “love” and “making love.” Surrounding herself with a team of multi-talented instrumentalists and producers including Keyon Harrold (50 Cent, Jay-Z), Hanan Rubinstein (Leela James), Raymond Angry (Christina Aguilera, Lauryn Hill, Joss Stone, Meshell Ndegeocello) and Grammy Award winning Ralph Kearns, they all believed in Renee as a singer and wanted to contribute to the project.  

 

Like the great Soul singers of the past, Sebastian has all the right ingredients: a natural voice of tremendous force and the gift of impeccable timing.  Both patient and urgent, sensitive and sultry, Mrs. Sebastian is about finding your own vision-- spiritual, emotional, personal and professional.  The introspective and melodic style that adds an extra dimension to her talent, coupled with seductive singles and crooning sentimental ballads that are bursting full of wisdom, the driving energetic sound that Sebastian brings to her music is unparalleled.  The irresistible intensity of Sebastian’s vocal delivery produces varied moods and her rich and complex lyrics are intricately intoxicating.  Renee Sebastian is heralding a new wave of Soul infused Pop soaked in Rhythm and Blues with unforgettable melodies that center around heavy instrumentation, textured arrangements and layered, confessional lyrics, this visionary masterpiece gives you everything you desire.

 

 

 

Watch Live Performances:

http://www.youtube.com/reneesebastian

or

http://reneesebastian.blip.tv