On August 15, 2010, PhemPhat Entertainment Group, founded and run by Barbadian Ebonnie Rowe, will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Honey Jam, Canada’s longest running all-female showcase for musicians and artists from all genres, backgrounds and different parts of the country. The show takes place at 8:00 p.m. inside the Mod Club (722 College Street, Toronto) – see www.honeyjam.com.

To mark the show’s milestone, in honour of their 15th anniversary and as a tribute to their most well known alumni Nelly Furtado, Honey Jam artists have recorded I’m Like a Bird.  The song is available for purchase on itunes. Proceeds will be split between YWCA Toronto programs for Women and girls and funding for Honey Jam initiatives.

Why Nelly’s song? In 1997, Nelly Furtado performed at Honey Jam where she met her current manager Chris Smith. Nelly is now a global star who has sold millions of albums worldwide and will be inaugurated into Canada’s Walk of Fame this fall.  She has also given back to Honey Jam by becoming a sponsor through her company Nelstar Entertainment. 

You can take a listen to the track on the youtube clip below which features photos of the artists in studio on the night of the recording:

The song will be performed as the finale at the showcase on Sunday.

PhemPhat CEO and Honey Jam Founder and producer Ebonnie Rowe was pleased with the outcome "It was an amazing experiences for everyone involved - you can see it from the photographs from the session - it's a great way to celebrate Nelly and our 15th Anniversary."

Track Producer Michael Sonier says: “The objective was to do I’m Like A Bird, but with a Honey Jam twist. I wanted to go for a more soulful and R&B vibe which led to co-producer Jon Adediji incorporating some warm instruments into the arrangement.  Because Honey Jam is all about a mix of genres,  Ebonnie suggested we add steel pan and placed us in contact with an incredible player named Joy Lapps who is also a Honey Jam Alumni.  We had to turn this project around in just a week’s time which would not have been possible without such talented artists. You hear the real deal, the real voices of these ladies. There was no auto tune or modification, just pure talent.”

Vocalists on the song include:

Qwyn Charter                           Kyla Charter                                Keisha Leisha          

Liya                                           True Daley                                  Karen Jules

REvived                                      Sly Violet                                    Elyse Saunders

Steel Pan by Joy Lapps                

Guitar: Kyla Charter, Sly Violet

Producers Michael Sonier and Jonathan Adediji

Studio Time generously donated by Harris Institute for the Arts

Mastering generously donated  by Tim Branton of João Carvalho Mastering

Artwork by Ashley McKenzie of VividBeautyDesigns

Below Nelly Furtado talks about her time on Honey Jam:

For more information contact:honeyjaminfo@gmail.com

www.honeyjam.com

The vocalists and team behind the recording