Sitting on the cusp between the originators of Trip-hop & the new vision is never an easy proposition. Vanessa Daou's music touched on Trip-hop, nu-jazz, & electronic with her trademark spoken word & aspirated singing style accompanying erotic literary lyrical subtexts.
Vanessa Dale Daou was born in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. She moved to New York City's Hell's Kitchen area where she eventually attended Columbia University where she studied dance & visual arts. She became involved with poetry through Kenneth Koch, who sparked her interest in spoken word. Daou ultimately graduated cum laude with a visual arts & art history degree from Barnard College. She frequently performed at Postcrypt Coffeehouse, the university's on-campus poetry lounge.
At the same time, Vanessa began her recording career with NuGroove Records, one of New York's underground electronica labels. Her demo caught the attention of two NuGroove DJs . They had her record vocals for a track they were developing. The union led to the label's top-selling single "It Could Not Happen".
See what you think of her attempt at bridging a chasmic gap between origin & revival.
You
A Little Bit of Pain
Mess Around
Make You Love
Show Me
Lovechild
Aphrodite
I Would for You
A Little Bit of Pain (II)
Juliette
Honey in a Jar
Bittersweet
Enjoy the Trip,
NØ