San Francisco soul siren Naje (Na-jay) has confirmed the April 22 release of her upcoming album New Day – a modern-day Sharon Jones meets Amy Winehouse that promises to be THE new sound of 2016! One listen to Naje’s powerful, soul-shattering voice fused with an early 60’s Motown-era pop-soul, funk and R&B sound and you know you’ve got the real deal.
New Day was co-written and co-produced by Naje and composer/arranger/bassist Sascha Jacobsen after she raised the money through her loyal fans on Kickstarter to produce the album. The album was recorded in the studio while the songstress was pregnant, and explores the many colors of love, loss, endings and new beginnings, and documents many events that define Naje, especially the birth of her daughter and becoming a mother.
New Day spotlights Naje’s soul-drenched, sensual voice that elegantly floats over Jacobsen’s masterful, evocative arrangements. The album was recorded by engineer Scott Bergstrom at Oakland’s 25th Street Studios and features an all-star cast of Bay area musicians with Naje (The Supervixens) on vocals, Sascha Jacobsen (Rita Moreno, Hugh Jackman, Mandy Patinkin, Patti LuPone) on bass, Mike Blankenship (Michael Franti, Sheila E) on keys and hammond B3, Colin Douglas (Eddie Palmieri, Wayne Wallace) on drums and percussion, Dave McNab (Bob Weir) on guitar, Guillermo Garcia (Trio Garufa) on nylon string guitar, and the Musical Art Quintet.
The title track “New Day” has a fun, uptempo, ska rhythm and feel infused with Naje’s retro-soul sound, while “I Can’t Stop” captures the essence of soul-funk as it was at its height in the mid-60s to mid-70s. Tracks like “We Can’t Find The Love” and “She Won’t Love You” take you back with Naje’s mellow, soulful vocals soaring over an early 60’s Motown-era, pop-soul sound. “Evermore” is a tribute to Naje’s daughter and a top-notch soulful anthem that gives a glimpse into the chanteuses’ poetic songwriting style.
from
New Day,
track released April 22, 2016
1. NEW DAY (Reuther-Jacobsen)
2. I CAN’T STOP (Reuther-Jacobsen)
3. SHE WON’T LOVE YOU (Reuther-Jacobsen)
4. EVERMORE (Reuther-Jacobsen)
5. WE CAN’T FIND THE LOVE (Reuther-Jacobsen)
6. TOMORROW’S GOODBYE (Reuther-Jacobsen)
7. THE OTHER SIDE (Reuther-Jacobsen)
8. TOMORROW’S GOODBYE (Acoustic) (Reuther-Jacobsen)
9. LOVE IS STRONGER THAN TIME (Reuther-Jacobsen-Remington)
10. DESTINY (Reuther-Jacobsen-Remington)
11. MON AMIE LA ROSE (Caulier-Lacombe) *
William J. Murray – executive producer
Rebecca NaJe Reuther – producer, vocals
Sascha Jacobsen – producer, electric bass, string bass, arranger
Mike Blankenship – keys, hammond B3
Colin Douglas – drums, percussion
Dave McNab – electric & acoustic guitar
Guillermo Garcia – nylon string guitar
Jory Fankuchen – violin
Savannah Jo Lack – violin
Charith Premawardhana – viola
Lewis Patzner - cello
Scott Bergstrom – recording engineer, mixing
John Schimpf – mastering
Scott Sosebee - artwork & design
Clayton J. Mitchell - photography
Recorded, mixed and mastered at 25th Street Recording Studio in Oakland, CA. Strings recorded live by the Musical Art Quintet at the Drew School by Scott Bergstrom and James Garrison.