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DOVE AD :: "SEGUE"
"Segue" featured in Dove Go Fresh Body Mist commercial. Click here to listen.
NEW EP :: REIMAGINED
Di Johnston's latest EP Reimagined has just been released on iTunes. Unlike ordinary remix projects in the traditional house/dance genre, this collection draws from an eclectic portfolio of styles, including classical, jazz, gospel, orchestral, rock, and downtempo.
Each track on the album attempts to transport the listener to a different locale, be it an afternoon piano recital ("Sugar Daddy"), a smoky 1920s jazz club ("Antidote"), Sunday morning at church ("Strangers on a Train"), or an evening at the symphony ("Trite"). The EP even features guest production by Blip Blip Bleep, whose uptempo electronic rock rendition of "You're Too Pretty" is the most contemporary of the set. The album concludes with "Epilogue," a quiet nod to the Impressionist era and its artists. Click here to listen.
ABOUT THE ARTIST :: DI JOHNSTON
Di Johnston was born in Hong Kong to two US diplomats. After stints in mainland China and Virginia, she moved to New York where she began her performing career. Within months of arrival, Di began to establish herself as a voice-over actor in NYC. She became the voice of many commercial campaigns, including Lincoln Mercury, Pantene, Lenscrafters, Verizon Wireless, PNC Bank and CMT. In 2006, she was selected as the announcer for the Miss America Pageant.
Recently, Di began applying her vocal talents to various musical pursuits. After releasing a few tracks on producer Dave Liang's Shanghai Restoration Project to an enthusiastic response - her song “Jade Buddha Temple” was featured as the single of the week on iTunes Japan and played on KCRW's "New Ground" - Di decided to take the sound one step further and record her own EP. She wanted to mix in some Chinese instruments as a nod to her upbringing, and decided to tackle the ubiquitous theme of flawed love without taking the subject too seriously. Liang's astute production and musicianship were the keys to creating a lush layering of music and vocals to complement Di's naturally seductive voice.
The Shanghai Restoration Project Presents: Di Johnston is a culmination of months of experimentation with sounds, lyrics and styles. Whether it makes you want to listen to the words or just dance to the music, the project offers a little something for everyone.
ABOUT THE PRODUCER :: THE SHANGHAI RESTORATION PROJECT
An experiment in cross-cultural soundscapes, producer Dave Liang's Shanghai Restoration Project draws its creative inspiration from the old 1930s Shanghai jazz bands, an early combination of East and West that's become an international legend. The Project revives this exotic blend by introducing Eastern instruments and rhythms to the Western sounds of hip-hop, jazz, and pop.
The Shanghai Restoration Project debuted as MSN Music's "New Artist of the Week" in early 2006 and became the #1 selling electronic album on the site during the month of January. Since then, it has appeared in iTunes' Top 20 Electronic Albums in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Europe, and Japan.
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