Lina

Lina – Role Model of Modern Soul

“I still believe in the things I can’t see… I believe in the things I can feel: Music, Love, and God.”

-Lina

The Artist:

Since getting her start in 1998, Lina has established herself as one of the most naturally talented and original singers in the world of Soul and R&B. Crossing over between jazz, gospel, soul, opera, hip hop and pop musical styles at will, Lina’s songs are instantly memorable. In her raw talent and classic voice, Lina builds upon the legacy of those who inspired her, including Sade, Billie Holiday and Erykah Badu, but provides a more modern musical take, along with her insight on important social issues.

Lina started as a songwriter for other established artists but released her debut album, Stranger On Earth, in 2001. She gained attention and popularity across the US and United Kingdom with songs like, “It’s Alright,” “Playa No More,” “Smooth,” and “I’m Not the Enemy.” Her modern day homages to legends from the Harlem Renaissance and Motown era have delighted music critics, and her catchy hooks and inspirational lyrics make her music immediately approachable.

Despite her success, Lina departed from the major label she was signed to and went on to create a record label of her own, Moodstar Recordings. This allows her to have more control over her message as an artist and to focus more on inspiring her listeners than on attaining commercial success.

Lina not only sings about socially significant issues, she walks the talk. Her involvement with charitable organizations includes The National Campaign, an organization that provides AIDS and safe sex education to inner city teens all over America. This same issue was at the center of Lina’s collaboration with Jurassic 5’s Akil and EarthTones founder Frank Fitzpatrick for the title song for the film Reflections. Lina has worked with Fitzpatrick on music for a number of other EarthTones campaigns, including her recent participation in the international collaborations of socially conscious hip hop artists for Beat The World. As part of the Beat the World soundtrack from EarthTones and Hip Hop Connect, Lina will be featured on the title track “Hip Hop Nation” with KRS-One and K’naan (Somalia) and “Must Be The Music” with Les Nubians (France/Cameroon) and MV Bill (Brazil). Lina is also spotlighted in the upcoming documentary Urban Roots, a film about Detroit’s urban farming movement. Lina’s latest album, Morning Star, was released in 2008. She has a release in the works for Summer 2011 and continues to tour, entertain and inspire around the world.

The Song:

Said & Done – Lina

“Lina is a dear friend and amazing artist. I have been inspired since that first day, over 10 years ago, when my friends at Atlantic played me songs from her then-upcoming debut release. It was Lina, with tracks like “Playa No More”, who she set the stage for the popular and soulful mix of classic jazz like Billie Holiday with contemporary hip hop and neo-soul. Always present, highly conscious, extremely generous and impeccably professional, I always enjoy working with and spending time with her.”

– Frank Fitzpatrick

http://www.myspace.com/linamusic