From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Thu Sep 03 2009 - 09:05:53 EDT
http://www.capitaleritrea.com/story/121-eritrea-rising-star-with-a-big-soul/
Eritrea: Rising Star with a Big Soul
Posted on 02 September 2009
Tags: Eritrea, Eritrean People, Fetsum Sebhat, Soul Music, Stuttgart
Fetsum Sebhat
Fetsum Sebhat is on his way to become Eritrea’s new rising Soul Star. He’s
got it all, “soulful, passionate and a good voice”. His first music video
for his single “Meet you in Paradise” has just been released.
The video is deeply emotional, plays in Rio de Janeiro and tends to be
slightly melancholic.
Understanding his background might help you to understand the depth of his
music a little better. His mother emigrated from Eritrea to Cairo in Egypt
where he was born.
Shortly, after they left Egypt in order to move to a friend of his mothers
in Italy Rome. Fetsum and his mother spent his early childhood in Italy
before they moved to Germany in the beginning of the 80s.
His language skills helped him to write songs in English, German and Italian
such as the Italian song called “Sei TU” meaning “Only You”. Although, music
played an important role in his childhood it came never into his mind that
he will one day become a musician. He rather thought of becoming a doctor,
athlete or a president.
After playing with a hip hop band, he got to know the right people and
befriended many music artists, who helped him to get on his own feet to
start a solo career as a soul singer. In addition to his own concerts he was
also acting as a background singer for other well known bands.
In 2003 Fetsum dropped his university degree in political science and tried
to make a living out of his voice for the first time. Two years later in
2005 he got signed to a major German recording label and produced his first
small album. Fetsums’ future plans are to release his first major album
“Colours of Hope” early next year in spring.
He is going to release a track each month from the album as a single until
the following spring. One single released from the album is “Emotional
Android”, which is a reggae theme with a style resembling former Fugees star
Lauryn Hill.
Listen to this song here: Video