SHU: News

Beautiful, beautiful people,

You are the only reason that I write and perform music. Without you there is nothing.

The past year has brought with it a great number of successes for me and for "Shusic." About 3,000 independent units sold, songwriting awards, good reviews, performances around the world, and the momentum continues to build at a rate that amazes and humbles me. But it would be stupid and wrong to think that these successes are my own. I have only been successful so far because of a wonderfully supportive, hardworking team, and because y'all care enough to keep listening to my music and coming to my shows....

So I want to say a sincere thank you, on this beautiful Friday afternoon in New York.

For those that were with me last night at The Cutting Room - thank you for packing the house and making the night so goddamn rockin' !!!! - I had an orgasmic time (in case you couldn't tell), and hope y'all did too ;) It's always mad exciting to debut new material, and I couldn't have asked for a better crowd! I also want to place a whole bunch of shots in the atmosphere for Shae Fiol, Loot, Oveous and especially Sharief, for honoring me with your creative presences, and sharing the stage with me.

But specifically, I want to take a moment to thank the people that don't get enough thanks. First, my best friends, that have come to just about every show, right from the beginning, and always supported this crazy dream. Mike, Jesse, Jenn, Dave, Courtney, Gitch, my cousin Andrew, and my wonderful sister Inosi. Y'all are my rock, and I owe you everything.

I also want to thank my management team - Karibi, Milton and Laurence are three of the best guys to work with. Especially in this crazy music-business, which is so typically full of bullshit and broken promises, they are steadfast and inspiring. Thank you guys - I know I can be a stubborn bastard, :) but I also know that I would not be here without you. I truly, truly appreciate everything you do, and all the sacrifices you have made, and continue to make because you believe in me.... And of course, the wider DM Family - y'all know who you are! :)

And to all the fans, what can I say to properly express my gratitude? I write songs that are meaningful to me, and can only hope that they connect. It is the greatest feeling in the world when they do. Thank you for letting me speak to you. Thank you for listening. But that still sounds so cheesy and meaningless... :)

So I'll just come back to where I started, and stress it even more the second time around: You are the only reason that I write and perform music. Without you there is nothing.

Sincerely,
Shu

Yo people,

I just got back from a great gig in Paris - the love was inspiring, the food was inspiring, the women were inspiring. An inspiring trip, all round ;)

Had a great time, and spent some memorable evening at the Hotel Costes Bar, trying to stay out of mischief. Check out my blog at www.myspace.com/shuprint for details!!!! ;)

Peace and soul,
Shu

Shu received a full-length feature last week in the new Boston-based music magazine, Skope!!


CHECK OUT SKOPE HERE (Search February Archives for Shu's Feature)

Yo people,

Wanted to share some fast and easy love (the best kind...). Just got back from a few West Coast dates and had a blast out there. It's a whole different life y'all, and you should believe every single stereotype. LA traffic SUCKS, the women are BLONDE, San Francisco is hilly (For real?! For real) and Oakland smells of weed. No joke. The whole place.

And, if you stick around San Fran long enough in the middle of the night, someone will offer you ecstasy. And other shit I've never heard of.

So, basically: Yaaaayyy!!!

Check out pictures from the trip (excluding pictures of my 'trip') in the photo section...

And no, it wasn't just a pleasure cruise. Did a showcase for Roland (keyboard makers - they gave me a bunch of cool gear), and the John Lennon Tour Bus (recording studio on wheels), got one of my shows taped live by Comcast Cable that's airing in the area, and got all the Amoeba and Rasputin record stores in the bay to stock Shusic!!! Bay area folk, GO GET A COPY!

Also, by complete chance, met and performed with the supremely talented beat-boxer Taylor McFerrin (Bobby's son), which was a revelation. Might be debuting that collaboration on NY stages soon - stay tuned.

More news comin' soon - thanks for the continued support y'all!!! This is impossible without you....

Peace, ecstasy, and a bathtub,
Shu

"Can I Take You Home Tonite" and "Once Again" have been getting regular play on BBC 1Xtra, the UK's top radio station, and Shu was recently invited to their London studios for an interview. Amidst general goofiness and buffoonery, Shu was tapped by the good folks at 1Xtra to be "Big in 2006"!! London peeps, stay tuned for the interview, airing in January...

This week, the John Lennon Songwriting contest named Shu BOTH a Grand Prize Winner, with his song "I Wanna Leave (But I Can't Stop Wantin' You)," AND a finalist (runner up), with his song "Once Again," in the R&B category! This prestigious, international contest is open to both amateur and professional songwriters and routinely receives over 20,000 entries, which are judged by a professional panel of industry experts, songwriters and musicians.
For more on the contest, Click here

Shu has recently been granted a merit-based ASCAPlus Award from the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), in recognition of the "activity generated by [his] catalog" of songs. ASCAP is a membership association of over 200,000 composers, songwriters, lyricists and music publishers of every kind of music, counting among its members everyone from Duke Ellington to Dave Matthews to Dr. Dre (and Shu, of course, whose name does not start with a D, unfortunately).

People!!!

I'm not writing with any Big Bad News, or to insist that you buy my album, or to ask you to do anything major. Just wanted to share some good vibes from a recent series of shows. Besides, face it - with this weather (for all y'all on the East Coast), you KNOW you're sitting inside with nothing better to do... ;)

I just got back from a trip to Kenya - land of my birth (what what!) - where I was received, for two weeks, with amazingly open arms.... I can't emphasize how much warmth and support I seemed to get from the whole city of Nairobi for my music, and for trying to follow a dream. Everyone bought the album, everyone sang along at performances, everyone wanted to let me know that they were digging the songs, and praying for me. Whether on radio, TV stations, magazine interviews, or just hanging out at the club, all I got was supportive energy and a warm hug. It was absolutely incredible - one of the most energizing and inspiring trips I've ever taken....

And SO! I wanted to take this moment to say, to everyone that showed love in Kenya, but also to all of y'all, how much I appreciate your support. My music is not just about getting a record deal, or achieving my own personal successes. It's most fulfilling, by far, when I feel that someone out there has listened to something that I've written, and been moved in some way. Has FELT the music. That's why I write, play, sing. That's why I'm devoting my life to this - because of the possibilities of making those amazing connections that only music can foster.

So, to everyone that's said a kind word, or told me to change some bullshit lyrics, or come to a show instead of buying that extra mojito . . . without you, I am nothing. From the bottom of my heart, Thank You...

And to NAIROBI!, a place EVERYONE has GOT to visit (you think New Yorkers know how to party...), ASANTENI!!!

Peace,
Shu

PS. More new soon - in the meantime, buy my album ;)

Y'all, I've been getting so much support from the Nairobi fans, and lots of folk have asked when my album will be available in Nairobi. Well, I've finally done something about that ('bout damn time). Shusic is now available exclusively at the Nu-Metro Media Store, at The Junction Mall. Go get a copy!!

Beautiful People!!

It's shaping up to be a very exciting fall, and I just wanted to share a few great bits of news with y'all.

First, I was selected to perform in a special showcase this Tuesday (tomorrow) night at Don Hill's in Manhattan, for a number of major labels. I'll be doing a short acoustic set - probably my most important performance yet - and would love your support, so come on down! (7pm show starts - details on shusic.com)

Also, I got contacted a couple of weeks ago by the top R&B/Soul label in Japan, and have just signed a deal with them to distribute Shusic in Japan! I'm insanely/orgasmically excited about this - Japanese fans have already been showing a lot of interest in the album, and it'll be nice to finally play for them live when Shusic "officially" drops in Tokyo.

Third, I'll be making trips to Kenya and Europe in the next few months for a few special performances - again, fans everywhere have been amazing, and I can't wait to meet everyone that's been e-mailing and showing love, especially back in the muthaland!

Today is one of those days when it all seems a little too heavy, like there's just too much tragedy hanging in the air. It's been such a tragid few weeks already with Katrina, but then there's the reminder of 9/11, and it all seems a little too heavy. Not to mention all those other tragedies in all those places in the world that don't get the benefit of a 24-hour CNN crew. What to say, that doesn't sound so stupidly inadequate....?

A bunch of DJ's have been championing "Once Again" and "Can I Take You Home Tonite" recently, and these two joints have started to catch some indie and internet radio heat! You can now hear Shu on:

WHCR 90.3FM - New York
WTCC 90.1FM - Springfield/Amherst/Hartford
Millenium Music (syndicated show on 12 stations)
Groove Palace
Indie Artist Radio - Wed 11am; Fri 6pm; Sat 10pm EST
Quality Beats Radio - 10pm GMT
New Artist Radio - Everyday Platinum Edition 1-2pm GMT
Streetblast - Everyday 8-9pm
M4 Radio - Tue 1-2pm; Friday 10pm EST
Garage Radio - 11am - 12pm EST
Radio Freedom - Sat 3-5pm EST
Luver Radio - Sat 5-8pm EST
The Detour - Thu 8-10pm EST
DJ Subsonic
Wonderchill

Shu has been featured by Reuters, in a TV spot shot at the Reuters studios in Times Square!!!! The feature - part interview, part solo acoustic performance - was the featured Entertainment video on July 25th on Reuters.com (9 million hits per month) and has been distributed to a truckload of Reuters-affiliated television outlets around the world!

Since "Shusic" was made available online two weeks ago, the album has been selling vigorously in the States, Japan, Germany, Spain, Australia, France, Netherlands etc. etc... Thanks to fans around the world for supporting this album! Please spread the word, and keep the love coming - Shu can't do this without you!! :)

Shu has been featured for a second week, alongside Zap Mama (!) and Bob Marley (!!!!) on www.blackpeopledontread.com, in the "Next Up" section!

After an incredibly successful East Coast spring tour, hitting up New York, Atlanta, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Boston, Shu is back in New York for his much anticipated album release. On Tuesday, July 5th, Shu will be headlining a show at The Legendary Cutting Room, and making available for sale the very first copies of "Shusic".... BE THERE!!!

So I've been talking about this supposed music video for my single for a couple of months now, and finally it's up on my website!!! We shot this in Brooklyn (WHAT WHAT?!) on a VERY independent budget, under the masterful direction of up-and-coming filmmaker Frederic Colier (altered-ego.net). Thank you Fredo!!
And now, the world premier of ONCE AGAIN, The Movie.......!!! ;)
Click Here to Watch Once Again
Click Here to Download Quicktime

Amigos!!
The good news (fortunately) keeps coming! I've been selected to play at two summer festivals in June on the East Coast, and will be launching a COMPLETE NORTH AMERICA TOUR over the summer, hitting spots as far south as Texas and as far north as Vancouver!!! This is unbelievably exciting for me, and I can't wait to take this music all over the place. Spread the word, follow me around, stomp and clap y'all!! Check the calendar for more details on all summer performances.

FOLKS!

I'm happy to announce that an ALBUM RELEASE DATE has finally been confirmed!!!!!!!!!!!! SHUSIC will officially be available for sale on JULY 5th, 2005!! I'm really excited about this album and can't wait to share it with y'all for real. SO, Mark the date, and check back for details on where you can COP THAT SHUSIC! :)