So as Im still missing the Vancouver Jazz Fest, I was remembering how I used to see local band SEKOYA play there every year from like 04 to 07? Lead singer AMALIA TOWNSEND, who also was with local soul group 1LUV, is now based in Stockholm, Sweden and was just able to recently catch up with her.

“WHAT DO YOU MISS?”
“The spirit of our ocean and the magnificent mountains on either side of me, my PAMILYA, my crew, ZENOBIA, all my gurlz, my jeep, VANCOUVER JAZZ FESTIVAL, spanish banks, HAIDA ART, $5 pho, SUSHI, dimsum, KFC, Beard Papa’s cream puffz, Goldilocks Bakery, TNT, Daiso, pretty much any kind of scrumptious Asian delicacy…”

“THE LATEST?”
“I’m in the studio with Swedish producer OPOLOPO creating my first baby!!! MY DEBUT FUNK LP! It’s been alot of love, sweat and tearz. 12 trax inspired by all the artists and producers who have helped sculpt me as an aritist. Chaka Khan, Janet Jackson, Sheila E, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley. I’m also collabin’ with a wide range of producers from all over the globe. Progressive hip hop head IisiJii from Helsinki, Ad Bourke from Rome, Atjazz from the UK, Koyla from St. Petersburg, Halabisky’s Uprising from Ottawa, BLACKTOP from Vancouver! Lots of muze. ;-D

Sekoya is still alive, but with all 3 maestros being on 3 separate continents, we’re all just reinventing ourselves and storing up inspiration. 1Luv’s band leader Dr. Jmoved to the Tdot sooOoo yeh he and I are workin’ on our own old soul project CUTTY LARK out on Do Right! Music.” CONTINUED UNDER THE CUT…

“WHAT’S HOT IN STOCKHOLM?”

“As much as I miss Vancity on a daily basis, Stockholm, is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve been to in the world, it’s built on 14 islands and connected by 57 bridges! The Archipelago is gorgeous and the nocturnal sunshine! 18 hours of daylight right now. The greenery, the fresh air and the proximity to the water remind me a little bit of Vancouver. Oh and the MOOSE are so popular here! haha

The one big difference is our Western history. Vancouver is still very young. Gamla Stan aka Old town’s streets date back to the 1600′s. If you refer to our Native history then Canada and Sweden are both very alike. Some thousands of years ago just after the last ice age, the SAMI resided in Northern Sweden. I miss the spirit of the First Nations around me.

Scandinavia has a great appreciation for ART & DESIGN! Real cutting edge tingz. The modern designers, the clothes, the sneakers, the furniture and underground art installations are craZy!

Also being in Europa and only needing to drop $100 on a roundtrip plane ticket to Venice, Paris, Barcelona, London is a blessing! So much easier to spread yourself far and wide as a musician, gigz coming up in Switzerland, UK and Spain etc…

ps. Yeh I miss em craZy SEKOYA gigz. 1000 people comin’ to see future soul jazz live in the park. Yeh Sharon Jones played that same David Lam stage the last year we played. Oh and Antibalas! Cinematic Orchestra…”

AMALIA ON MYSPACE
SEKOYA
1LUV