VICTOR SILA: Waiting

Victor Sila

Waiting

© 2001 Victor Sila (803241100023)

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With his upbeat attitude and passion for music, Victor Sila sings to express, rather than to please; his music could be compared to that of the artist Sade, Maxwell, or The Brand New Heavies, but with more energy in his rhythms.

tracks

1 Interlude
2 Sexual
3 Night & Day
4 Hakuna Matata (No Worries)
5 I Will Give In
6 I Want You Back
7 Waiting
8 I Hate U/I love U
9 Breaking My Heart
10 Seven Nights
11 Dreaming
12 Give It To Me
13 Never Gonna Fall
14 My Future
15 People Will Always Make You Cry

notes

COMING TO AMERICA

" I remeber running out to the savanna near my childhood home in Kenya, climbing a rock and singing to the tall, swaying African grasses, pretending they were an imaginary audience" Victor Sila says laughing. Victor, the first born in a family of five, was an imaginative kid who got hooked on music the moment he saw Michael Jackson's performance on Motown 25. "Michael Jackson was huge in Africa. I learnt all his moves and performed them at various local competitions and talent shows, which I usually won."

My parents were poor and couldn't afford music lessons or instruments, so the only way I could learn music was to join the choir in our village which had the only piano in the city." Victor adds. "I used to sneak into church and teach myself songs by artists like Kool and the Gang, Earth, Wind and Fire and Prince hoping I wouldn't get busted by the Clergy." Victor says laughing." Growing up in Africa was a gift. I was exposed to music ranging from tribal music to Led Zeppelin. " When Victor moved to US, he had a mission - to pursue his dreams. The road to recording his debut album has been a long and windy one. Victor realized that the only way he could fulfill his dreams was to do it on his own. He started his own label, Visila Records, and worked tirelessly for seven years to raise funds to record a major label quality album.

"I did not want to cut any corners and sacrifice quality on this project. I recorded my album in some of the best studios in San Francisco, hired one of the best engineers in San Francisco, Matt Kelly (George Clinton and The P-Funk, Tupac, Chris Isaac) and featured local talents like Vinyl on horns and guitar and San Francisco's own Diva, Ledisi, on background vocals. The CD was mastered by legendary engineer Steve Hall (Madonna, Ricky Martin, Sisqo) at Future Disc Systems, LA. The results - an R&B/Pop album full of emotion, passion, intensity and great musicianship.

Victor's debut album features songs like "Hakuna Matata (No Worries)" a hot dance tune that mixes Afro-beats and dance. "Sexual" introduces audiences to the sexier, sensual, side of Victor. We feel the pain of love and loss in, " I Hate U/ I Love U" which Victor sings in a smooth Falsetto and rings true to those that go through love and hate relationships with their partners. "I am extremely proud of this album," Victor says.

Victor's live shows area seemiingly a self-contradictory statement as the shy, slim artist with a soft voice and low-key personality explodes into highly choreographed performance that defies explanation. He relates to the audience in a manner that is confident and upbeat, yet refreshingly down-to-earth, and keeps everyone swaying and waving like the tall African grasses reminiscent of his childhood.

Bayarea. Citysearch reviewer say, "RED HOT: With his upbeat attitude and passion for music, Victor Sila sings to express, rather than to please. His music could be compared to that of the artist Maxwell, but Victor Sila imparts more energy in his rhythms...Don't miss a chance to jam to his funky music.

Introducing - VICTOR SILA.

reviews

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  • I want some of what C.H.R. is taking
    author: russell Clark

    Very strong album with consistently good tracks. Cannot see (or hear) how it's like Maxwell, Sade or Brand New Heavies, nevertheless a very soulful, smooth and well produced album. Trust me, I'm not a doctor.

  • Mr. Sila's voice has a laid back feel, with a soothing easiness about it.
    author: C.H.R.

    'Waiting', the debut album by the San Francisco Bay Area-based Victor Sila, is a commendable presentation of sonic art by this self-produced and self-financed artist. Mr. Sila is also affiliated with fellow independent Bay Area-based R&B singer Natalie Brown, who contributes background vocals on many of the tracks you will find here. It took Victor about seven years to make this album a reality, making 'Waiting' all the more special. 'Waiting' it is a testament to Victor Sila's determination to complete his work and live out his life to the fullest. The best way to describe Mr. Sila's voice is to liken it to a soulful version of Enrique Iglesias. Like Iglesias on songs like "Sad Eyes" and "Rhythm Divine", it has that same, laid back feel, with a soothing easiness about it. There are four songs that I feel best represent what this album has to offer. The four songs (in order of personal favorites) are: "Breaking My Heart", "Night & Day", "People Will Always Make You Cry", and "I Will Give In" The music that makes up the midtempo "Breaking My Heart" is splendid; it has a midly carefree, tropical feel to it. While the subject matter is more on the somber side, the song communicates a happy feeling to me. There is a great electric guitar solo in the bridge of the song, and I for one love to hear guitars utilized on R&B tracks...one of the trademarks of R&B from the mid to late 1980s. "Breaking My Heart" in my opinion is ready for radio and/or television. This is my favorite one, and the track that made me think, "this sounds like something Enrique Inglesias would do..." "Night & Day" is a nighttime ballad all the way - nighttime on a warm balcony (with tiki torches...overlooking the beach) somewhere on vacation with your loved one. A great follow-up to "Breaking My Heart", "Night & Day" has a great saxophone solo in the bridge. This song has a quiet storm/smooth jazz feel to it, and adds a Maxwell-esque dimension to the album. A solid standout. "People Will Always Make You Cry" gives me visions of a foggy morning on the California Coast...think Pacific Coast Highway. It's a somber, warm yet crystalline ballad that has a cool, misty appeal to it... "I Will Give In" is a sun-shiny uptempo that weirdly (at least in my head) reminds me of the 80s hit "Don't Answer Me" by the Alan Parsons Project...I like this one in the same manner that I appreciated Natalie Brown's "You Pierced My Soul"...they both evoke images of rolling green hills and flying kites. A bonus cut for me would be "Hakuna Matata", a lively take on the beloved saying...perfect for any World Music radio shows anywhere looking for fresh, upbeat material. So my recomendation would be to listen closely to the sample song/links on this page, and then decide for yourself. I did... Thanks for reading! C.H.R.

  • Silky, seductive contemporary R&B
    author: Noah E.

    Victor Sila plays upbeat, Highlife influenced Synth-Pop and silky, seductive contemporary R&B

  • I stopped by the listened and I really enjoyed the smoothness and quality record
    author: Tony Love

    This is a must have CD for anyone especially for lovers, or if you just want to chill out and imagine your on the beach watching the waves come in, sippin on your favorite drink. Very well recorded and performed. Please support this artist better than some of the major label material out today another independent smash keep up the good work!!!!!

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