Empire ISIS
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Empire ISIS (true name Miriam Moufide, also stage-named The Gangstress) is a singer, songwriter and social activist based in Montreal, Canada.[1] Her musical style has been described as a blend ofdancehall, reggae, hip hop, pop and World music. She is signed to Monumental Records and distributed by Universal Music Group.
Contents
[hide]
1 Early life
2 Activism and Charity
3 Musical career
4 Discography
5 Awards
6 References
7 External links
Early life
Born in Wales to a Moroccan father and British mother, she was raised in Morocco. At age 7 she moved to Montreal, where she lived with her 2 brothers, mother and Ugandan/Yemeni stepfather.[2]
At the age of 16, Moufide moved to Costa Rica for school and began a four year trip around the world, living with small and marginalised communities.[3] Her love for music and anthropology led her to visit and live in 30 different countries, and to eventually put her experiences to music.[2]
Activism and Charity
At 21 while in the Amazon rainforest attending the Bumba Meu Boi festival, she met members of the Rainbow Caravan for Peace (including Alberto Ruz Buenfil) and joined them as they visited indigenous villages and festivals. Drawing on her education in theatre, music and workshop facilitation she worked with them performing in street theatre and giving workshops on bioregionalism, permaculture, ecovillage design,nutrition and spiritual gatherings.[4] Her lyrics often focus on social matters like women’s rights (“NANA Power”), building community (“Participate”) and defending your dreams ("Get up on it", "Won't surrender").[5]
The artist tries to use her international recognition to draw attention to issues that matter to her, by hosting and performing charitable events,[6] especially in her home cities of Montreal[7][8] and New York.
The song S.O.S. to Freedom is currently being used in a campaign against human trafficking across the United States.[9]
Musical career
Moufide, having taken the stage name Empire ISIS, began making music while traveling in Jamaica, working with the legendary Jamaican musicians Dean Fraser and Chinna Smith, as well as Miami-based producers The Iconz. She recorded her debut album “Empress Gangstress” in part at Bob Marley's legendary Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston. It featured reggae singers Bushman and Half Pint. Empire ISIS has played in over 20 different countries, including Brazil, Panama, Columbia, Venezuela, Senegal and Canada[10] and the American festivals SXSW and CMJ.[11]
On her more recent albums, Empire ISIS has worked and recorded with world-renowned producers like Prayon[12] and Kovas. As well as songwriting for Empire ISIS, she also writes under the name Miriam Moufide for other musicians and is published by Cherry Lane Music and pigFACTORY Music.
Discography
Empress Gangstress (2005)
Sound The Trumpets (2007)
Brand New Style (2009)
Crack The Code (2011)
Awards
Some awards and nominations Empire ISIS has received are listed below.
Gala SOBA(Sounds Of Blackness Awards)
2008: Winner – Best English Single of the Year
2008: Winner – Best World Music Music Artist of the Year [13]
GAMIQ(Quebec Indie Music Awards)
2008: Nominee – Best World Album [14]
Hollywood Music Awards
2008: Nominee – Best Pop Artist[15]
International Reggae & World Music Awards
2005: Nominee – Most Promising Entertainer [16]
Montreal Hip Hop Awards
2010: Winner – Female Artist of the Year [17]
Toronto Exclusive
2007: Winner – Best New Artist
2007: Winner – Best New Single
2007: Winner – Best New Female Artist [18]
Toronto Independent Music Awards
2008: Winner – Best Out-Of-Province – "Quebec"
Underground Urban Music Awards
2008: Winner – Best International Artist [14
References
^ "Homerun | Hallway Interview with Empire ISIS". CBC.ca. 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ a b Lyonnais, Sheena (2009-01-28). "Empire ISIS Is Gangstress". CHARTattack. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "Métro Montréal - Empire Isis: Tassez-vous de d’là!". Journalmetro.com. 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "The Front: July 13, 2000". Montrealmirror.com. 2000-07-13. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ Dowling, Marcus (2009-03-25). "True Genius Requires Insanity: NEW ARTIST SHOWCASE: Montreal, Quebec's EMPIRE ISIS". Tgrionline.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "FONDS VILLE-MARIE | Invitation aux médias - Soirée des Mérites Classes Affaires 2008: 800 jeunes récompensés!". Cnw.ca. 2011-02-25. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "Montreal hip-hop artists and ConU student unite to help fight HIV/AIDS". Theconcordian.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "Knowledge is Sexy: Our Fight Against HIV/AIDS II, a Benefit Concert « MINDPEACELOVE". Mindpeacelove.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ http://www.nyc.gov/html/endht/html/home/home.shtml
^ "Empire Isis | Music Videos, News, Photos, Tour Dates, Ringtones, and Lyrics". MTV. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "SXSW 2009 line-up coming together nicely :: News :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "Participate | Mad Decent". Sub.maddecent.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "Empire Isis Conquers: Winner Of 'World Music Artist Of The Year' At The Gala Soba (Sounds Of Blackness Awards) @ Top40-Charts.com - Songs & Videos from 49 Top 20 & Top 40 Music Charts from 30 Countries". Top40-charts.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ a b "Empire Isis Wins "Best International Artist" - Underground Urban Music Awards In Nyc". Prlog.org. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "Ladies First: Boogie on Reggae Women". Jamaicans.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/EMPIRE-ISIS
^ "The Official Site Of The Montreal Hip Hip Awards / Site Officiel des MHA's". Montrealhiphopawards.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "nominees". Torontoexclusive.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Empire ISIS (true name Miriam Moufide, also stage-named The Gangstress) is a singer, songwriter and social activist based in Montreal, Canada.[1] Her musical style has been described as a blend ofdancehall, reggae, hip hop, pop and World music. She is signed to Monumental Records and distributed by Universal Music Group.
Contents
[hide]
1 Early life
2 Activism and Charity
3 Musical career
4 Discography
5 Awards
6 References
7 External links
Early life
Born in Wales to a Moroccan father and British mother, she was raised in Morocco. At age 7 she moved to Montreal, where she lived with her 2 brothers, mother and Ugandan/Yemeni stepfather.[2]
At the age of 16, Moufide moved to Costa Rica for school and began a four year trip around the world, living with small and marginalised communities.[3] Her love for music and anthropology led her to visit and live in 30 different countries, and to eventually put her experiences to music.[2]
Activism and Charity
At 21 while in the Amazon rainforest attending the Bumba Meu Boi festival, she met members of the Rainbow Caravan for Peace (including Alberto Ruz Buenfil) and joined them as they visited indigenous villages and festivals. Drawing on her education in theatre, music and workshop facilitation she worked with them performing in street theatre and giving workshops on bioregionalism, permaculture, ecovillage design,nutrition and spiritual gatherings.[4] Her lyrics often focus on social matters like women’s rights (“NANA Power”), building community (“Participate”) and defending your dreams ("Get up on it", "Won't surrender").[5]
The artist tries to use her international recognition to draw attention to issues that matter to her, by hosting and performing charitable events,[6] especially in her home cities of Montreal[7][8] and New York.
The song S.O.S. to Freedom is currently being used in a campaign against human trafficking across the United States.[9]
Musical career
Moufide, having taken the stage name Empire ISIS, began making music while traveling in Jamaica, working with the legendary Jamaican musicians Dean Fraser and Chinna Smith, as well as Miami-based producers The Iconz. She recorded her debut album “Empress Gangstress” in part at Bob Marley's legendary Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston. It featured reggae singers Bushman and Half Pint. Empire ISIS has played in over 20 different countries, including Brazil, Panama, Columbia, Venezuela, Senegal and Canada[10] and the American festivals SXSW and CMJ.[11]
On her more recent albums, Empire ISIS has worked and recorded with world-renowned producers like Prayon[12] and Kovas. As well as songwriting for Empire ISIS, she also writes under the name Miriam Moufide for other musicians and is published by Cherry Lane Music and pigFACTORY Music.
Discography
Empress Gangstress (2005)
Sound The Trumpets (2007)
Brand New Style (2009)
Crack The Code (2011)
Awards
Some awards and nominations Empire ISIS has received are listed below.
Gala SOBA(Sounds Of Blackness Awards)
2008: Winner – Best English Single of the Year
2008: Winner – Best World Music Music Artist of the Year [13]
GAMIQ(Quebec Indie Music Awards)
2008: Nominee – Best World Album [14]
Hollywood Music Awards
2008: Nominee – Best Pop Artist[15]
International Reggae & World Music Awards
2005: Nominee – Most Promising Entertainer [16]
Montreal Hip Hop Awards
2010: Winner – Female Artist of the Year [17]
Toronto Exclusive
2007: Winner – Best New Artist
2007: Winner – Best New Single
2007: Winner – Best New Female Artist [18]
Toronto Independent Music Awards
2008: Winner – Best Out-Of-Province – "Quebec"
Underground Urban Music Awards
2008: Winner – Best International Artist [14
References
^ "Homerun | Hallway Interview with Empire ISIS". CBC.ca. 2010-11-19. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ a b Lyonnais, Sheena (2009-01-28). "Empire ISIS Is Gangstress". CHARTattack. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "Métro Montréal - Empire Isis: Tassez-vous de d’là!". Journalmetro.com. 2010-12-21. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "The Front: July 13, 2000". Montrealmirror.com. 2000-07-13. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ Dowling, Marcus (2009-03-25). "True Genius Requires Insanity: NEW ARTIST SHOWCASE: Montreal, Quebec's EMPIRE ISIS". Tgrionline.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "FONDS VILLE-MARIE | Invitation aux médias - Soirée des Mérites Classes Affaires 2008: 800 jeunes récompensés!". Cnw.ca. 2011-02-25. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "Montreal hip-hop artists and ConU student unite to help fight HIV/AIDS". Theconcordian.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "Knowledge is Sexy: Our Fight Against HIV/AIDS II, a Benefit Concert « MINDPEACELOVE". Mindpeacelove.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ http://www.nyc.gov/html/endht/html/home/home.shtml
^ "Empire Isis | Music Videos, News, Photos, Tour Dates, Ringtones, and Lyrics". MTV. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "SXSW 2009 line-up coming together nicely :: News :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. 2009-01-09. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "Participate | Mad Decent". Sub.maddecent.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "Empire Isis Conquers: Winner Of 'World Music Artist Of The Year' At The Gala Soba (Sounds Of Blackness Awards) @ Top40-Charts.com - Songs & Videos from 49 Top 20 & Top 40 Music Charts from 30 Countries". Top40-charts.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ a b "Empire Isis Wins "Best International Artist" - Underground Urban Music Awards In Nyc". Prlog.org. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "Ladies First: Boogie on Reggae Women". Jamaicans.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ http://radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/EMPIRE-ISIS
^ "The Official Site Of The Montreal Hip Hip Awards / Site Officiel des MHA's". Montrealhiphopawards.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
^ "nominees". Torontoexclusive.com. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
