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NIY0-RAH

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NiyoRah (Nigel Olivacce) - Spectacular member of the Star Lion Family and native son of Dominica. NiyoRah is one of brilliant character and ability and is son to the much sought healer and herbsman Ras Bobby. Niyo-Rah was raised in the ghetto area of St. Thomas known as Savan. An area where concrete hearts and turf dominate the landscape and one must be very rootical to come through in the positive.

Music

Biography Photos Interviews Reviews


The Music

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As a powerful voice among fellow bredrens of the Star Lion Family, Niyorah was featured on their debut album "From The Heart" on Black Juice Records, their 2004 EP "Brighter Days", "Rastafied Hip" compilation on Splatter House Records and his duet with fellow Star Lion member Rafijah on the 2002 hit "Let It Out" on the Bambu Station Talkin' Roots Volume I. 2005 saw the release of Niyo's his debut album 'A Different Age', with Purification Session being released in 2006.


Biography

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Nigel "NiyoRah" Olivacce was born on October 9, 1980 in the coastline village of Pointe Michel, Dominica. At age 4, he moved to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, with his family, and cultivated an interest in music through listening to artists in his father's and uncle's roots reggae collections, including Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear and Lucky Dube. By age 16, NiyoRah began chanting on the streets about the life experiences of the Savan ghetto in downtown Charlotte Amalie.

At age 18, NiyoRah decided to pursue a career in reggae music. "Reggae had one of the greatest influences on my life. It's the type of music I cling to for some mystical reason," he says. "The most high guided me more than me myself.NiyoRahHe took on the name NiyoRah - a combination of his nickname growing up and out of respect for the omnipotent power of the sun. Music was a natural career choice because of his musically gifted family. His grandfather is an award-winning vocalist who sings Negro spirituals and gospel, while his aunt, Ophelia Olivacce Marie, is an international French-speaking artist heralded as "Dominica's Songbird" for her style of cadence and calypso. In 1998, he was introduced by local reggae radio personality Ras Manny to Black Juice Records, a Virgin Islands-based recording company. He joined with six other reggae artists under the company to co-found Star Lion Family. His voice can be heard on Star Lion Family's EP "Brighter Days" released in November 2003.

NiyoRah's songs delve into a wide range of issues, including cultural living, love for nature, strengthening of all peoples, especially Africans, and spiritual growth. In concert, NiyoRah has performed in front of thousands, sharing the same stage with artists such as Sizzla, Capleton, Junior Reid, Buju Banton, Bunny Wailer, Glen Washington, Eve of Rough Riders, Midnite Band, Dezarie and Junior Kelly. NiyoRah's debut solo album "A Different Age" - is scheduled for release in May 2005 on I Grade Records.

For product information, booking information, or for interview or dubplate requests, contact info@igraderecords or 646 226 1738. Sound samples can be found online at I Grade Records.



Photos
Click on thumbnails for full-size photos

Niyorah In The Studio - Photo by Malakai George
Photo by Malakai George
Niyorah - Photo by Wanakhavi Wakhisi
Photo by Wanakhavi Wakhisi
NiyoRah

NiyoRah - Photo by Malakai George
Photo by Malakai George
NiyoRah - Photo by April Steyert
Photo by April Steyert
NiyoRah - Photo by April Steyert
Photo by April Steyert


Interviews

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Ras Danny's July 26, 2005 Interview of NiyoRah

 

Listen to Ras Danny's July 26, 2005 interview of NiyoRah in advance of his performance in Portland, Oregon that week as part of the I Grade Summer 2005 Showcase that included NyoRah, Army, Abja and Ancient King.

Ras Danny is the host of Higher Reasoning Reggae Times which airs Sunday mornings from 1-6AM on KBOO, 90.7 FM, Portland, Oregon. 

Click on image to hear interview
Running Time: 24:54


Album Reviews

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Purification Session

Reggae Vibes:
About a year after he entered the international modern roots arena with his strong full length debut album, "A Different Age", NiyoRah returns with a brand new album full of righteousness and conscious messages. It's always interesting to see what an artist delivers on his sophomore album, especially if he has shown real potential on a debut album as in case of NiyoRah. After having listened to "Purification Session" one can only conclude that this collection of tunes surpasses all that has come before. - More

Reggae Reviews:
NiyoRah returns with righteousness and conscious messages, delivered with a youthful exuberance and confidence exemplified by the title of the opening track, "Nothing to Prove." Despite a relatively adolescent tone to his voice and several bouncy, danceable tracks, this album flaunts an unwavering militancy. Check out this line from "How It Is": "By any means, I will defend the poor. / I will shoot a wicked man and close the coffin door." Indeed, the name Purification Session is appropriate, as the sing-jay seeks to cleanse wickedness with a scorched earth policy. - More

Achi's Reggae Blog:
Another album I have held in similar regard over the past couple of years or so as being a GREAT piece is definitely the wonderfully titled Purification Session from Rock City based Dominican born chanter/singer NiyoRah. Not only did this album virtually catapult itself near the top of my list as far as albums go, it also did the same for the artist as well upon its release back in 2006 from Laurent ‘Tippy’ Alfred’s I-Grade Records. Now Purification Session was one which came with a ‘primer’ for me because I had thoroughly enjoyed Niyo’s very first album the year before, A Different Age, which definitely opened my senses to receiving the next album after it (incidentally, I should just mention that A Different Age was a part of the biggest promotion I’ve ever known I-Grade to half as it virtually simultaneously released it along with Conquering Sound from Ancient King and Rasta Awake from Army and I find it VERY interesting that the only artist for whom they have released an album since then has been NiyoRah).  - More

A Different Age

Reggae Vibes:
In recent years we have been treated to some great reggae music coming from the small islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John, all being part of the Virgin Islands. Artists such as Dezarie, Ikahba, Pressure, Abja and Army along with bands like Midnite and Bambu Station are continuously evolving and pushing the roots music and sound back into the foreground. With their releases and tours they have managed to gain many devoted roots fans. The latter are now treated to the third album release within I Grade's New Release Trilogy... NiyoRah's "A Different Age". - More

Reggae Reviews:
NiyoRah is an up-and-coming Dominican-born, St. Thomas-raised artist who you may have heard as part of the Star Lion Family (heard on the compilation Talkin' Roots Volume 1, amongst other albums).  He stands out from the mass of sing-jays out there with not only his expressive vocals, but also his ability to sing, chat, and even rap a bit (Purists should know that the rapping is kept to a minimum, though.).  His lyrics are likewise unique and insightful, as on his scathing attack on school menus in "Clowns Around Us": - More

Achi's Reggae Blog:
A Different Age came as the ‘earth’ portion of I Grade’s outstanding ‘Fire - Earth - Wind’ promotion of a trio of releases in 2005, alongside Ancient King’s Conquering Sound (fire) and Army’s Rasta Awake (wind). Well, in retrospect, perhaps there’s a reason why I Grade IMMEDIATELY had NiyoRah back the following year for the followup, because they, like me, recognized that A Different Age was the best of that very SOLID lot. - More

 

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