
Davina Robinson |
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When
a MySpace friend described her music as "pure rock n' roll soul,"
Davina Robinson embraced the term, declaring herself as "The Rock n'
Roll Soul Chick." "It's cool, edgy and tough," Robinson says, "It
basically says it all."
The title of Robinson's
rock-n'-soul-inspired debut EP, The Blazing Heart, speaks to a
generation of talented indie singer-songwriters who, like her, are
fiercely dedicated to doing whatever it takes to share their talents
with the world - defying the odds, overcoming setbacks and surviving to
emerge with their own distinctive voice. For the cool, edgy and
rockin' Philly-bred, Osaka, Japan-based artist, that voice is seasoned,
tough, sensitive and powerful, the launching pad for a charismatic
all-around performer who can sing her ass off - any song, any genre -
and make the song her own.
The Japanese audiences she's been playing to these past few years go
crazy for Robinson's attitude and energy, and with her powerhouse
originals, she's slowly weaning them off their love for covers of
familiar pop songs only. A few years ago, four of her tunes won
Honorable Mention in the 11th Annual Billboard Song Contest, and while
gearing up for the May 2008 release of The Blazing Heart, she's added a
large handful of cool, funky accolades to the mix.
"Making Love To Your Girlfriend," the blistering soul-flavored tune
that leads off the EP, received an honorable mention (top 500) in the
15th Annual Billboard Song Contest, an honor award in the Great
American Song Contest, was runner-up for VH1 Song Of The Year, a
semi-finalist in the U.K. Songwriting Contest and a nominee for Best
International Song by Toronto Exclusive Online Magazine. Beyond
crossing so many international borders, the track is also featured on
the Violet Femmes, Vol. 1 CD (from Vancouver-based RPW Records) and
Females On Fire, Vol. 3, set for a Spring 2008 release on Warrior Girl
Music.
The Blazing Heart also includes "Conversations In My Head," which she
fashioned as a tribute to her grandmother, and the
electronic/industrial rock influenced "Keeping Me Sane". In a nutshell,
"Conversations..." expresses a desire to be the tough yet kind,
tragedy-overcoming dignified woman her grandmother was. It also
questions death and what happens when we die - do we cease to exist or
do our energies continue on? "Keeping Me Sane" is about the quest for
fame/stardom and the love of one person who will keep the narrator on
the right track to survive the quest and achieve the goal. "Never Good
Enough" is a power pop tune written with the entertainment business in
mind - how you have to be a certain type to make it, but the minute you
take one piece of advice, the business comes up with something else
that needs to be changed. Robinson says it can also be interpreted
romantically, referring to a guy who makes demands on his girl, who
changes something about herself only to be told she needs to change
more.
A true musical citizen of the world, Robinson is Italian on her
mother's side and African-American, Cherokee, Blackfoot and English on
her father's side. She grew up listening to everything - jazz, blues,
soul, country, R&B, disco, oldies, pop, rock, metal, hip-hop and
even classical - and saw rich connections between all of those genres.
In college, she majored in French and also studied Italian, and later
in grad school majored in International Affairs. Along the way, she
became interested in Japan, and after earning her degree, she moved
there to teach English, while also studying Japanese. She was headed
towards the civilian life of working for a multinational company when
her passion for music re-ignited and she formed her first bar band.
While working on developing her own style, she's played in a great
variety of professional situations ever since.
"I was reunited with my first love, music, because of Japan and for
that I am eternally grateful," she says. "And now it's time to kick
some ass on the international stage!"
And for this spunky "Rock n' Roll Soul Chick", that time is now.
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15th ANNUAL BILLBOARD WORLD SONG CONTEST, Honorable Mention (top 500):
"Making Love To Your Girlfriend"
GREAT AMERICAN SONG CONTEST, Honor Award:
"Making Love To Your Girlfriend"
TORONTO EXCLUSIVE ONLINE MUSIC AWARDS,
Best International Rock Song, Nominee:
"Making Love To Your Girlfriend"
UK SONGWRITING CONTEST, Semi-Finalist:
"Making Love To Your Girlfriend"
VH-1 SONG OF THE YEAR, Runner-up:
"Making Love To Your Girlfriend"
11th ANNUAL BILLBOARD WORLD SONG CONTEST, Honorable Mention:
"Conversations In My Head"
"Funky Chick"
"Like a Woman"
"Never Good Enough"
GarageBand.Com
Best Female Vocals & Most Original Song:
"Keeping Me Sane"
GarageBand.Com
Track Of the Day:
"Conversations In My Head"
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WEBSITE: DAVINAROBINSON.COM
MYSPACE: MYSPACE.COM/DAVINAROBINSON |