NEeMA releases new record Watching You Think on Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Produced in association with Leonard Cohen and Pierre Marchand

TORONTO, May 26 /CNW/ - Recording artist, poet and dancer, NEeMA is set to release her new album Watching You Think on June 29, 2010. Throughout the summer NEeMA will be performing live across Canada in celebration of the release.

The album Watching You Think was produced by Montréal-born NEeMA in association with Leonard Cohen and Pierre Marchand (Sarah McLachlan, Ron Sexsmith). Of NEeMA's work, Leonard Cohen has said, "in the midst of all the static, a voice of true feeling arises - a rare event!" Cohen also drew the haunting portrait of NEeMA, which serves as the album's cover.

Pierre Marchand, one of the most admired and celebrated producers in contemporary music has said about NEeMA "an inspiring presence - her evocative lyrics and warm voice paint beautiful, timeless stories and portraits." The album was partially recorded, and mixed at Marchand's studio in Montreal.

Sure to please music lovers of many stripes, NEeMA's Watching You Think, displays the artist's international background and experience, seamlessly melding elements of world music, folk, and jazz with a good measure of pop. NEeMA's songs of love, life and simple observations read like parables and sound instantly familiar to listeners who will find themselves singing along effortlessly by the second chorus.

Her voice delivers twelve original stories, in an uninhibited and authentic style, and is complemented perfectly by some of Montreal's best musicians, who add nuance to every mood and emotion. The musicians include Howard Bilerman, Tim Kingsbury (Arcade Fire), Tom Mennier (Martha and Rufus Wainwright), Joe Grass and Miles Perkin (Lhasa de Sela), and Gurpreet Chana (Nelly Furtado).

The production of the record is stunningly clear and spacious and the character on the whole remains unusually intimate. This should come as no surprise considering that Watching You Think was produced in association with Leonard Cohen and Pierre Marchand. Others involved in the album's production are Haig V and Fred Bouchard. Neema's Watching You Think is a confident and mature chronicle of a remarkable song writing talent.

With much positive feedback, her 2006 debut album Masi Cho was nominated for a MIMI (Montreal International Music Initiative) in the World & Roots category. Over the last few years NEeMA has toured Canada, Ireland, Australia, England and the US. In the summer of 2007 she performed over 33 concerts including Nova Scotia's Privateer Days Festival and the South Country Fair Festival in Alberta. Other highlights include her 2008 concert at the Electric Picnic Festival in Ireland, the 2008 Winterfolk Festival in Toronto and Canadian Music Week, and two sold-out shows at the Montreal International Jazz Festival in 2009.

Born of Egyptian and Lebanese decent, NEeMA's presence on and off stage is powerful and charismatic, and her voice is honest and unique. She has traveled and experienced the world in ways that many wish they could. She has spent time with the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa; she has had the privilege of working with Tribal elders managing Wekweti, an isolated First Nation community in northern Canada. And with her journeys she has acquired an undeniable ability to communicate her stories through poetry and song, exploring those themes that are dear to the human heart.

NEeMA is set to tour this summer performing at renowned jazz festivals across the country:

    
    June 12   Quebec City, QC - La Cercle - opening for Basia Bulat
    June 30   Toronto, ON - Supermarket Club
    July 2    Toronto, ON - Hugh's Room - opening for Emm Gryner
    July 3    Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Jazz Festival (NAC Fourth Stage)
    July 4    Montreal, QC - Montreal Jazz Festival (Musee D'Art
              Contemporain)
    July 6    Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Centre
    July 8    Calgary, AB - The Marquee Room - opening for Ramblin' Jack
              Elliot
    July 9    Edmonton, AB - Haven Social Club - opening for Ramblin' Jack
              Elliot
    July 12   Vancouver, BC - Media Club
    July 14   Victoria, BC - St Ann's Academy
    July 25   Guelph, ON - Hillside Festival
    July 27   Toronto, ON - The Dakota Tavern
    July 28   Ottawa, ON - Zaphod Beebelbrox
    July 29   Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa
    

Log on to www.neema.ca for further tour date announcements.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: and interview opportunities, please contact: Erica Silver, [email protected], [phone]