Artist Chosen Winner of Baltimore’s Artscape SOUND-OFF! Contest
 
(Washington, D.C.) – August 9, 2010 – Urban contemporary gospel artist TolumiDE (pronounced toe-LU-mee-day) dropped her first full-length recording, My Love, in late spring.  Since that time, she’s been taking the gospel industry by storm with the unique flair she brings to the genre.  The Nigerian and Canadian singer has been receiving rave reviews for the CD and it’s title cut, “My Love”.  Distributed nationally and already charting on BDS with rotation on 150 stations nationwide, the urban-tinged song highlights the relationship between the singer and her Lord.  In addition, the accompanying video, directed by Tayo Abereoje from Black Royal Pictures, from  has been in rotation on the Gospel Music Channel, MBOA TV, Channel O (South Africa), MTV Base, Nigezie and ONE Gospel TV; it’s also gotten thousands of plays on YouTube and countless other websites. 
PrayzeHymnOnline.com says, ”
She’s able to take the musical DNA of Taio Cruz and the ease of Oleta Adams, while injecting more of her heritage using bilingual lyrics, into a friendlier foundation of melodic pop and R&B balladry perfect for outreach crossover gospel.”  TheBlackGospelBlog.com says, “My Love is at once different and in tune with today’s urban contemporary gospel sound. As the title track (and current single) demonstrates, the album combines the vibrancy of African polyrhythm, explosive techno and TolumiDE’s fetching African accent with lyrics that uplift, empower and inspire while remaining grounded in the realities of modern life.”
 
EJ of
GospelPundit.com says, “Her single, ‘My Love,’ is so catchy, so hot, so fun and funky…I kinda can’t stop listening!”
  Heed Magazine says, “TolumiDE’s first full-length, My Love, continues her tradition of combining the cultural sounds of her past with the modern sounds of the present in a way that’s equally at home on the pop charts as it is in the gospel world.  With a smooth and warm voice, she heeds Psalm 33:3 – ‘Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully and shout for joy.’”
 
In addition to gospel media singing her praises, Baltimore fans made her the choice (out of dozens of entries) for Artscape’s recent 3
rd Annual Sound-Off! Competition.
  Sound-Off!, part of The 29
th Annual Artscape, a celebration of arts in Baltimore, showcases the talents of unsigned artists in Charm City.
  The Sound-Off! judges, consisting of Norvelle Jackson of WEAA 88.9 FM, Bret McCabe of City Paper, and Stephen Yasko of WTMD 89.7 FM, evaluated and selected three finalists for the competition with Artscape music lovers and fans voting for the finalist.  The fan favorite received the coveted performance slot on Artscape’s Charm City Stage and as the winner, TolumiDE received a check and a backstage party for 20 fans.
 
Formerly a member of the multiple award-nominated group Women Ah Run Tings, TolumiDE garnered her own award as the recipient of the 2009 African Heritage Award for Outstanding African Artist.
  My Love, her second release, followed her EP critically-acclaimed debut, Specialty.
  During her career, she’s had the opportunity to perform at venues like Blues Alley, the Vancouver Jazz Festival, the Toronto Jazz Festival, the Nigerian Entertainment Awards, FestAfrica, the Canadian Reggae Music Awards, and others.
 
TolumiDE is currently on her Summer/Fall Tour and is available to minister at Sunday and Mid-week services and Youth Special Events during her tour.  For more information on TolumiDE, go to www.tolumidemusic.com.