Shameem is very excited to announce the release of a video for her track “Sleeper On The Night Train”, which features on her debut self-titled album. Produced by Dylan Tilbury for Ow My Eye! Productions, the video was shot in Perth at Subiaco Train Station. The rhythmic groove of the song is animated by the choreography of Perth hip hop and tap dancer Leanne Driel.
Produced by Ow My Eye! Productions. Choreography by Leanne Driel.
Check out the full length clip here. Produced by Ow My Eye! Productions. Choreography by Leanne Driel.
A shimmering wave of beautiful jazz music entices the lucky ears of civilians down under in Australia. This lovely wave has traveled into my ears delightfully sending my whole aura into a state of sheer euphoria. The music comes from Shameem Taheri-Lee, an artist who protrudes an essence of chill vibes from her light and smooth voice. A mixed array of emotions arise from her song “Sleeper on the Night Train.” It pulls my senses to full attention with its enchanting piano and guitar playing. The tune embodies a message of choosing one’s own destiny instead of just waiting for it to choose you. Her voice slowly flows through the chorus like a gentle river rocking a boat on a calm night. This song is so soothing to the ears that I could almost imagine singing it to my future children when I put them to bed one day. The tranquility of her voice could rock a sweet child to sleep and help them dream of courageous ventures because of the ambitious words of her charming melody.
(See article online here)
All photos taken by Katey Manuchehri, edited by David Broadway. Make-up by Michaela Whittle of The Makeup eMpire. Hair by Katie and Kendal at Shendals Signature Salon.
Here at SoulBounce, we’ve been noticing a lot of quality soul music coming our way from Australia and New Zealand. From Sam Sparro to Electric Empire to The Liberators and Electric Wire Hustle, there has to be something funky brewing in the waters over there to create such a bumper crop of down-under talent. Now we add to our ever-growing list of Kiwi and Aussie soul with Australian singer-songwriter Shameem. Her three-song EP, Universe for Afternoon Tea, showed a lot of her promise with jazz inflected R&B songs like “Undertones” and “I Look Up.” The jazz influences and her smooth, clear voice have made the Perth-native a favorite guest singer for many of Australia’s jazz clubs, but her heart truly lies in the world of soul music. She has used her influences to her advantage though, merging them with her love of ’90s R&B grooves to create something truly special, and it shows on her self-titled debut album. Tracks like “Boy,” an easy, laid-back jazzy groove of a love song, and the moody “Sleeper on the Night Train” showcase Shameem’s marriage of jazz and soul to great effect. Shameem’s debut will be released to the masses on November 19th. If you’re lucky enough to be a music-lover in Asia and Australia, Shameem plans to follow up her album’s release with tours on both continents (and maybe she can bring her talents stateside as well). As a consolation for the rest of us, we can listen to “Boy” and “Sleeper on the Night Train” below and hop after the bounce to see video of Shameem and her band recording the album (which features her track “Back to the Ground”).
(See article online here)
Radio Interview on 6PR with Paul Cook.
Radio Interview at RTR FM with Warren Kimble on the Saturday Jazz show.
The lyrics for “Sleeper on The Night Train” are here.
I first penned some of these lyrics years ago, but discarded them as I couldn’t come up with any sound musical ideas. Much later, I came up with a guitar riff and bass groove that formed the basis of this song, and re-worked these lyrics from long ago.
When things are tough, it’s very easy to blame fortune for your bad day. One of Aesop’s Fables that I read as a child told the story of Dame Fortune appearing to a young boy who had fallen asleep while lying on the edge of a water well. She begged him to wake up, saying that he would surely fall into the well, and that when he did, the people would lay the blame on her.
This is a song about taking charge of your own destiny. I believe that life gives us a set of tools to use, and that it is up to us to wield them to create our own reality. We are not prisoners of fate.
Sleeper on The Night Train
You say, “This is not my day.”
Resign yourself to disarray
Well, don’t you see another way?
Take your future in your hands, make plans and have your say
Rather than waiting for fate to send your day your way
Will you be another sleeper on the night train?
Will you be another sleeper on the night train?
You say, “This is just much luck;
The hand was dealt, now I am stuck.”
Oh, don’t you see another way?
Let your vision now expand, make plans and have your say
Rather than waiting for fate to send your day your way
Will you be another sleeper on the night train?
Will you be another sleeper on the night train?
Sleeper on…
(guitar solo)
Sleeper on, sleeper on, sleeper on…
Will you be another sleeper on the night train?
Will you be another sleeper on the night train?
Will you be another sleeper on the night train?
Will you be another sleeper on the night train?
Will you be another sleeper?