Biography
Uru, born in the eastern region of Nigeria is a native of Imo state. As an infant, her family moved to America where she was raised until age 7. Her family then returned to Nigeria. There she finished her elementary and secondary school education. Uru then returned to America as an adult to study political science and fine arts in university. She decided afterwards to pursue music full on. Determined to succeed, she taught herself how to play piano, write her own music and lyrics, and sing. This Nigerian singer has been penned to become “a chanteuse of formidable fame”, according to a review by Billboard Magazine. This singer/songwriter may be living and performing in America, but not conforming. She knows where she’s from. She speaks her language too. Yes, Uru speaks Igbo. In a time when some African youth may feel it’s ‘cool’ to be more Western, Uru feels It’s more ‘cool to be African’. Thus her reason for turning down certain record deals. No way was Uru going to conform to the major label’s profile of “cute black girl – we gotta get her to do R & B” This girl has refused to be molded into something she’s not. Instead she joined an independent label, California based Tantrum Records. At Tantrum Uru has the freedom to record her music, working with top producer / engineer Sjoko. Uru, short for Uruaku, in Igbo, means “essence of wealth.” A wealth of talent and a wealth of spirit heard clearly in her music. When describing her creative process, she talks of melodies or words simply coming to her. Sometimes in song, sometimes in poetry, in no particular order and at no particular hour. Her lyrics are sometimes deliberately simple, but pay close attention and you will find them profound, laced with metaphors that provoke. With lines like: “I’ll live inside your daydreams, I’ll dance inside your heart, I’ll play a symphony of strings until you come apart.” Once you’ve entered Uru’s world of music, you might just come apart. Significantly influenced by her constant travels across the globe, she possesses an innate understanding of the common chord that runs through all genres of music. Elements of Rock, Hip-Hop, Blues, African rhythms and timing are interwoven into her own distinct sound. As you listen to her work you will feel as though you are being taken on a special new journey. That Uru is a passionate human being is obvious throughout her music, whether she is singing in her distinctly soulful fashion or putting to use one of her many instrumental skills. But her passion is not solely musical. For example, her CD contains a “hidden” bonus track, a song called “Wrap Up”. This song serves as a global HIV / AIDS awareness anthem. Uru is also passionate about involving her home community in her work; she offers fans the opportunity to buy her CD in a leather satchel, hand-made for her by craftsman in Nigeria. As you can tell, we are not talking about your ordinary, every day musician. Uru is much more than that: a truly unique talent that must be heard and seen to be believed. Already successful in the USA, Uru is increasingly in demand in Asia and Europe as well, and is planning to get her career of the ground in Africa this year, starting with the release of her first single (You Know!?) and CD “Africa Mma” in Nigeria!
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