For Diversity, Look No Further Than Epic's Rozalla
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Dance ARTISTS & MUSIC For Diversity, Look No Further Than Epic's Rozalla ROZALLA admits she has often the last one. (rowing that DJs are brain at peak volume in order to this longtime renegade of our commu- worried that "Look No Further," her already playing the single so much truly appreciate its trippy appeal. nity should be kickin' booty with these second album for Epic Records, before I go out there is encourag- Available on the ever -experimental ambitious projects in no time. might never see the light of commer- ing." Maxi Records in New York. Speaking of Logic, the label is about cial release -particularly since it has "You Only Love The Same Way After a stream of so -so releases, to unleash "Good Time," a compilation been on and off the label's schedule Twice" only scratches the surface of TRAX the prolific and persistent folks at of bright'n'happy Euro -NRG anthems. for nearly a year. a richly diverse collection that, for Dig It International have hit a The set wisely places such well -known "It's been more than a little nerve - starters, takes a torch to the "Queen by Larry Flick groove that could elevate the New jams as "What Is Love" by Haddaway wracking," she says with a weary of Rave" tag that has followed Ro- York indie to national prominence. and "Sing Hallelujah" by Dr. Alban chuckle. "It's not easy to work so zalla since her 1993 breakthrough, Among the label's better offerings alongside festive new movers such as hard and then wait so long to see the "Everybody's Free." While the brac- Believe." It is a long way from her now are "Try My Love" by Janet "Hooked On You" by Zoran, which is results. The good thing is that I've ing "This Time (I Found Love)" will early '90s salad days as the mouth- Rushmore, which is half of a double - available as a single on July 28, and had singles released throughout leave familiar techno -pop skids all piece for tunes by the Band Of Gyp- A -sided 12 -inch that also features "World Of Dreams" by Gregory. Europe the entire time, so I've been over the dancefloor, it is only one of sies production and writing team. "Special" by Donald O. Produced by Check it out. many styles successfully explored Shortly after the release of "Look Eddie Perez and Mike Cameron, The latest release from Jellybean's here. "Free The Love" has a spare No Further," Epic will launch a dou- the former cut makes the most of eponymous indie label is "Revenge," but sultry deep house tone, while her ble -A-sided single. The Diane War- Rushmore's seductive style, while an R &B -laced houser by Darryl reading of Soul Family Sensation's ren- penned title cut will go to pop the latter exhibits the reliable chops D'Bonneau. Producers Paul Scott "Baby" flutters with lush disco ro- and AC radio formats, while a ballsy, of the Smack Productions posse, as and Shank Thompson grow more as mance- thanks in part to Frankie tribalistic version of R.E.M.'s "Los- well as Donald's steamy, romantic tunesmiths every day and may hit just Knuckles' astute and typically ing My Religion" goes to clubs. Now baritone range. the right public chord with this one. grand arrangement. that the album is upon us, Rozalla is Also of note on Dig It is "Boriqua Jason Nevins also displays considera- Rozalla displays soul maturity and already guardedly thinking about Style" by producer /composer Eddie ble new depth as a remixer on inter- an increasingly flexible vocal range her next recording. "Love" Arroyo, a Latin -spiked an- pretations that are underground - during the album's more subdued "I just hope we will not be talking them that should inspire sassy shoul- friendly without losing the original moments, most notably on a pair of about it two years from now," she der shaking wherever it is played. tune. Up next on Jellybean Records is Andre Betts old- school hip -hop/ says, laughing. "Someone will feel Look for this one on Dig It subsidi- "Reach (Take It To The Top)" by Alli- R &B productions, "I Can't Wait" and my wrath before that happens ary Bumble Beats Records. ance, which features fab future diva "If Love Is A Dream." Her shining again!" Lilias White. moment, however, occurs during "All GROOVELINE: Music industry That I Need," a sumptuous slice of SINGLES GOIN' STEADY: How AIDS awareness and fund-raising or- PARTING GLANCES: The interna- classic soul that we think could be lovely it is to have a bit of new music ganization LIFEbeat jumps aboard tional dance music community is reel- ROZALLA her vehicle to deserved pop /cross- from the eternally fierce Ultra Naté. the retro -disco bandwagon with ing from the sudden death of twenty - over stardom. As the Baltimore- rooted diva re- "Mighty Real," a 17-cut compilation of something ingenue Louise Dean of "I recently went back and listened groups and writes material for her disco classics, slated for mid -July re- London/ffrr act Shiva, who fell victim busy working in other parts of the to these songs, and all I feel is deep next project, her loyal disciples are lease on EMI Records. Among the hits to a Mt-and -run driver in London on world. Otherwise, I might have gone pride," she says. "As much as I would served "Party Girl (Turn Me featured are Brothers Johnson's June 18. crazy." love to have fame and money, I need Loose)," the theme to the current "Stomp," Sister Sledge's 'We Are The singer was just reaching a suc- According to Frank Ceraolo, to be proud of my work. I need for Parker Posey movie, "Party Girl." Family," Thelma Houston's "Don't cessful stride as the front woman of Epic's director of marketing, the de- it to be clear to the world that I have Although Relativity Records has the Leave Me This Way," and, of course, the act's recent No. 1 U.K. smash lay in issuing "Look No Fur- never taken a single shortcut in my soundtrack, which you absolutely Sylvester's "(You Make Me Feel) "Work It Out," which packed stateside ther"-which will finally be released life, especially in my career. I have must have, New York's King Street Mighty Real." Twirl on, children. dancefloors on import. At the time of this month -is due to an active flow moved forward and developed as an Records is releasing this double - Former Logic Records A &R/mar- her death, a promotional pressing of of albums by platinum -level acts at artist by working my butt off." pack single -a good idea in terms of keting VP Pam Film is bravely hit- the act's second single, "Freedom," the label. "Since Rozalla is a develop- Part of that development has in- reaching hard -headed underground ting the indie trail with not one, but was earning rave reviews from taste - ing artist, we didn't feel we would be cluded moving behind the scenes and jocks. two companies dedicated to develop- makers. The package, which includes giving her or the album a fair shot," sharpening her skills in vocal ar- La Naté is as fiercely attitudinal as ing progressive dance music. P.A.M. is mixes by Brian "B.T." Transeau, K- he says. "She's a very talented per- rangement and songwriting. Two of ever, sashaying over producer Al geared toward artist management, Klass, and Loveland, will still be com- former, and we didn't want her to fall her own compositions appear on Mack's rugged deep -house groove including DJs and producers, while mercially released abroad mid -July. through the cracks." "Look No Further" -the gleeful with arched eyebrows and swagger- Dove Music is a record/publishing At this point, the act is considering He adds that, in light of the proj- house twirler "Work Me" and the ing runway precision. She remains company for domestic acts and occa- continuing with a new singer, although ect's continued rescheduling, "we breezy midtempo pop ditty "Do You the focal point of every mix, provided sional international ones. We predict a final decision has yet to be made. couldn't wait any longer to put it by luminaries Satoshi Tomiie out -even though it seems to be (whose Hardshell mix as da bomb!), coming out on the heels of a huge Nelson Rosado, and DJ Oji. The project like Michael Jackson's. We track will also appear on Mack's are going to do the best we can to Billboard. Dove forthcoming "Divas Of Color" compi- market and develop this album from lation on King Street. the clubs and hope that it ground- HOT Hi -NRG loyalists are advised to swells into the pop arena." latch onto the domestic pressing of As she embarks on a 17 -city U.S. "Don't Give Me Your Life," a recent club tour in promotion of the project, iediVN/7 U.K. club sizzler by Alex Party on is London Records. In the post- produc- the native Zimbabwean says she 0 FOR WEEK ENDING JULY 8, 1995 "incredibly relieved" that the label tion grip of Dancing Divaz, the wheels are now in motion and is track boings'n'bumps with playful buoyed by the largely enthusiastic pygR TpCLLUpBBEPyLAYG aggression, while singer Shanie re- 1. &THE MELODY MAKERS E EK RARLEY a pivotal with her invig- props club DJs have bestowed upon 2.