Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Riva Nyri Précil releases first album, Perle de Culture, honoring the beauty of Haiti’s culture


Riva Nyri Précil releases Perle de Culture, March 2015. Photo by Joey Rosado 

Date: April 6, 2015
Contact: Michelle Karshan
Michelle Karshan Communications
Tel: 917-853-0433
Fax: 212-202-3992


Riva Nyri Précil releases first album, 
Perle de Culture,
honoring the beauty of Haiti’s culture

Brooklyn, New York (April 6, 2015) – Singer/songstress, Riva Nyri Précil, releases her debut album, Perle de Culture (Cultured Pearl), showcasing the unique and diverse richness of Haiti’s culture that continues to influence all of Riva’s creativity. The album’s 16 songs are a seamless fusion of World Music’s Haitian Racine/Roots songs, mixed together with soul, jazz elements, and African tones. Vocals by Riva Nyri Précil and music arrangement and production by Monvelyno Alexis. Perle de Culture is available for digital download on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby.

Riva  explains why her first album is a tribute to Haiti, "Perle De Culture is my way of supporting, preserving, and exposing the beauty of Haitian culture. It is my gift to the people of Haiti and around the world, so that everyone may enjoy the rich fruits our land has to offer."

In her authentic sultry and soulful Creole voice, Riva, who like many others, lives between two cultures, shares her own interpretations of Haiti’s Vodou songs traditionally sung to honor or call upon the wide array of spirits brought over from Africa on slave ships bound for Haiti.  Four original songs -- Nan Dòmi, Ou Fèm (a love ballad), Zantray Lavi, Mwen Bezwen w, (a love song duet with a zouk/konpa beat) and are arranged and produced by Monvelyno Alexis.

“Ms. Precil is a bright star on the horizon of world music and beyond. This debut album is unbelievably impressive! It has it all -- strong vocally, strong musicianship. I look forward to all the genre hopping I expect her to be doing in the future.” Tim Wolff, Film and Documentarian director, producer.  Directed and produced The Sons of Tennessee Williams

Yes! I love when I fall in love with someone's music. This is what happened when I heard Riva Nyri Précil sing for the first time. With a voice that sounds like honey, a fluid vibe, and a soulful and jazzy melange of her Haitian heritage and influences, Riva Nyri Précil gives us something that feels so special. Naïka in Balance -- Staying Centered in the Artistic and Holistic

A Gifted Voice. 
Smooth, soothing and relaxing… these are the epithets that come to my mind to describe the voice of rising star Riva Precil who, I believe, has already earned a comfortable seat in the front row of the Creole Divas' Club. She surfs musical genres with ease and will amaze listeners with her effortless approach to singing...I am convinced her natural talent will conquer the hearts of many listeners in the coming years.KariJazz, The Kreyol Jazz Source 


Riva Nyri Precil…a soul full of passion. The Soul Pick

Background. Born in Brooklyn to a Haitian father and a mother of Irish/Russian descent, Riva grew up in Haiti from age 5 until 15 where she was exposed to, and participated in, both traditional and contemporary Haitian music and culture. In Haiti, Riva studied music, folkloric and modern dance, art, and theatre under some of the most important teachers of their genre. Riva began performing at an early age in cultural events, clubs, on television and at Haiti’s National Palace.

Returning to Brooklyn in 2004 following political upheaval in Haiti, Riva attended LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts (the “Fame” school) where she majored in vocal performance and studied jazz history. Riva attended Loyola University in New Orleans on a voice scholarship graduating with a degree in Music Therapy. Returning to New York, Riva did her Music Therapy internship at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan, where she participated in a study on the positive impact of music therapy on premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Riva has performed at numerous venues including the New Orleans Jazz Festival, The Jazz Gallery, Brooklyn College, the Haiti Cultural Exchange, at Drom and Shape Shifter Lab, in Center for Traditional Music and Dance showcases, in the Atlantic Antic and Make Music New York festivals, and at several Haitian and other restaurants/clubs including Tonel, La Caye, Harlem Social Club and Pepela. Riva also performs regularly at benefits for Haiti including for Fonkoze, the Lambi Fund and Edeyo Foundation, Lamp for Haiti and the Haitian Education and Leadership Program (HELP) at the recent annual concert for Haiti in Montclair, New Jersey.

Journalists/Editors: Photos by Joey Rosado for jacket and insert images attached.  Please contact Michelle.Karshan@gmail.com for additional info, music, high-resolution images, interviews, etc.

Watch Riva Nyri Précil "Ou Fè M" Official Music Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yCQ_OAItLZI

Listen to Se Bon by Riva Nyri Precil on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/riva-precil/se-bon



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Riva Nyri Précil (click on to enlarge) Photo by Joey Rosado