Lina,
singer and songwriter who boldly discards all artistic blueprints,
achieving an unexpected, brilliantly satisfying musical fusion that
makes a musical statement thriving on rich, jazz-era orchestration
complemented by R and B and hip-hop. In effect, a one woman Harlem
Renaissance, reclaiming decades worth of musical heritage for a new
generation.
Bringing the past pouring into the present, Lina made her bold musical
introduction in 2001 with her debut album, "Stranger On
Earth". Produced by Travis "T-House" House and Jeeve, the
album finds the young singer and songwriter bringing classic and modern
soul together on such tracks as the grooving "Step Up", the
atmospheric "Waiting" and the hip-hoperatic "Playa No
Mo'". With her sophomore album near completion, L I N A and record
label Hidden Beach Recordings, set their sights on raising the musical
standard.
Growing up in a music filled household, her mother a singer and her
father a guitarist, Lina wrote her first songs as early as age eight,
and found herself gravitating toward her mother's prized record
collection, endlessly spinning classics from the Thirties, Forties, and
Fifties. "I think Billie Holiday was my first love" says Lina,
thinking back to her childhood in Texas. "There was just something
about her approach to a song and the blues that she brought to
everything she touched". Studying music in high school, Lina was
exposed for the first time to a wide variety of musics - classical,
choral, opera - and began singing in area talent shows, taking her first
steps toward becoming a songwriter.
Lina's post high school years brought frequent travel to the Los Angeles
area where, under the guidance of her cousin and uncle, she began to
work with a variety of producers and songwriters. Lina would eventually
move to L.A., in full-time pursuit of her artistic dreams.
After cutting a series of demos in an effort to turn other artists on to
her songs, Lina had her first success in 1998, when L.A.-based Tyrese
recorded one of her songs for his self-titled debut. Since, her songs
have been recorded and placed on forthcoming albums, as well as in films
such as HBO's "Disappearing Acts" (2001) and Fox Picture's
blockbuster hit "High Crimes" (2002).
"I really believe in the unity of people, and that music can cross
all boundaries, no matter the era- yesterday, today, tomorrow, ...
everything in between."
Lina,
singer and songwriter who boldly discards all artistic blueprints,
achieving an unexpected, brilliantly satisfying musical fusion that
makes a musical statement thriving on rich, jazz-era orchestration
complemented by R and B and hip-hop. In effect, a one woman Harlem
Renaissance, reclaiming decades worth of musical heritage for a new
generation.