Lynn Olagundoye

Lynn is a 24 year-old singer/lyricist from Calgary with a voice that blends smooth R&B and soul with compelling lyrics and a fresh sound that incorporates funk, jazz, alternative rock, afrobeat, roots-reggae, and old-school pop influences. Having performed session work for local Calgary funk/rock outfit Guerrilla Funk Monster during her college years, Lynn pursued an opportunity to write and produce a few songs of her own for a Holla Productions stage event in the spring of 2004.

Having performed session work for local Calgary funk/rock outfit Guerrilla Funk Monster during her college years, Lynn pursued an opportunity to write and produce a few songs of her own for a Holla Productions stage event in the spring of 2004.

Her obvious gift for melody and harmony and her natural ability as a lyricist attracted the attention of Winnipeg-based Absurd Machine Records. Collaborating with her friends from Guerrilla Funk Monster, Lynn quickly penned a dozen songs and began work on her debut album. The resulting CD 'Africa Violet' was released on Absurd Machine Records in March of 2006 to excellent reviews from the media.

Since breaking onto the scene in 2006, Lynn has shared the stage with Nine Mile (who toured North America and Australia with Xavier Rudd) and Marcia Griffiths (one of Bob Marley's original I-Three back up singers), K'naan and Lagbaja, in addition to playing several high-profile club, event and festival gigs (Taste of Jamaica, NeXtFest, New Calgary Jazz Festival, Komasket Music Festival, Afrikadey!, Global Fest, C-JAZZ Festival). While she will be busy touring around parts of Canada for the remainder of the year, and into next year, expect a follow-up CD from Lynn sometime in fall 2007.

-James Musulak

RECENT PRESS QUOTES ABOUT LYNN AND 'AFRICA VIOLET':

"Calgary's Lynn Olagundoye blooms on Africa Violet, a ten-track project that fuses R&B and soul with a grab bag of jazz, roots reggae, rock and funk. Collaborating with funk/rock outfit Guerrilla Funk Monster, the overall production is a stylish affair. The singer/lyricist's groove-based music is on point -- classy, brassy and understated all at once -- joints like 'Beautiful,' 'Sunkissed' and 'Fly With Me' showcase Olagundoye's soul stirring penchant for good music."
-Ryan B. Patrick (Exclaim! Magazine, Canada)

"From the smooth opening harmonies of 'Beautiful' to the final groovy undulation of 'Get Down', Africa Violet announces the arrival of a true musical personality...It's a remarkable debut and gives an exciting glimpse into what should be a long and prolific career."
-Kenna Burima (FFWD Magazine, Calgary)


"In an age where the austere, mechanical piston thump of drum machines has come to dominate R&B, soul music doesn't sound all that soulful. That's why Calgary's Lynn Olagundoye is such a breath of fresh air!"
-Jordan Lane (Beateroute Magazine, Calgary)


"Prepare to be wowed by Lynn Olagundoye and her debut CD Africa Violet!"
-Mike Bell (The Calgary Sun)