Dom Jones' TOP FIVE Singers in the Bay Area

HONORABLE MENTION: DELTRICE - twitter.com/Deltrice09






I can't make a list with vocalists and not mention Deltrice. I've loved her voice since I first saw her on Missy Elliot's "Road to Stardom." She has a fantastic voice, and I hope she finds much success. If I had to offer any feedback for Deltrice, it would be that her production makes her music suffer sometimes. With such an incredible voice, really polished production is a must. Much love to Deltrice. She's a beast!



5. SAMM - twitter.com/gotsamm

I've liked Samm since I heard her single "Rider" on the radio, and thought, "Who's this new artist out?" I thought she had a deal... it was dope to find out that this level of polish existed in the Bay. I've seen Samm perform many times, and I must say, she's super dope. I always judge whether or not a singer can sound as good on stage as they do on the record. I have to tip my hat to Samm, 'cause she always does. My only hope is that I can hear more from Samm. More material, more performances. She rounds out the top five for this reason. Check out her ReverbNation to catch up with her music.


4. Netta B - twitter.com/NettaBrielle




Netta is so talented. Great performer, great voice. Every time I see her perform, she brings great energy and consistent styling. I really wish that Netta's sound was more consistent. I often find myself wondering what she's going for. I love her voice, her riffing, and feel that with better production and more consistent songwriting, she could easily top this list. My favorite song, "Pushing Away," is where I get closest to feeling she's found something really special, sonically. To top it off, Netta's a really personable artist. This is difficult to find, as ego and bravado often get in the way. So not only do I tip my hat to her voice, I tip my hat to her character. I appreciate that level of class. Check out her official website, and support her music!


3. Siaira Shawn - twitter.com/siairashawn

Sia is a beast. A beast. A beast. She makes any room sound like it has great acoustics, hence the echo when I say... a beast. She has a great sense of harmony, and an interesting take on songwriting that I love. What puts Sia a rung above the rest is that she is evidently true to herself, and in her music, encourages others to be true to themselves. She does this without losing her relevance, without sounding preachy, without being cheesy. I take issue with Sia's production. (There's a theme in this blog, I guess.) I'm often in love with the songs, and pissed off at the production. Ironically... my favorite song by Sia is "Clarity," an a capella piece on her EP The In Between. Also, I've heard almost no upbeat tracks, which in this climate is a must. Still, I think that the earth, the stars, the heavens are lying in wait for the moment Siaira Shawn hits. Check out her official site, and support her sound!


2. Viveca Hawkins - twitter.com/vivecahawkins

I first heard her voice on The Attik's album, Jungle Electric. She had a lovely voice then. I was reintroduced to her as the head vocalist in the Kev Choice Ensemble. She was a great addition to an already amazing ensemble. What strikes me is when releasing her project, her musical APPRECIATION is so apparent in her sound, without DISTRACTING from it. She has traces of rock, jazz, soul all intertwined to create her own sound. She finds production that compliments her style. My favorite song on her debut solo album is called "Breathe." It has lyrics we can all relate to, production with great movement, and is almost reminiscent of a more mainstream N'degeocello. I implore you to check out and purchase her new album, Chips, and support what will be a successful musical journey, I'm sure.

*********AND THE #1 SINGER IN THE BAY ARE IS********

1-OAK

Am I biased? No. Am I wrong? No. I first heard 1-OAK singing the hook on a local rapper's song. My first thought was, "He's a church boy." I wasn't wrong, but over the years I've watched him grow vocally, musically, and as a performer. It's difficult to find a young man who can stand up to the beautifully talented women who preceded him in this list... kinda the converse of hip-hop's scene. Singing is more kind to women, it seems. I love 1-OAK for his soul, for his musical integrity and originality. Ever since he remade The Cure's "LoveCats," I've known that we had something special on our hands. As his first single from his forthcoming album Special Reauest, "Rewind," gets shown major love locally (and inevitably nationally), I am so assured that he will be the first male vocalist from the Bay since Raphael Saadiq to gain great national and international acclaim. As with Viveca Hawkins, the music appreciation is apparent in his music, as he showcases many genres while finding his own sound and style. To me, he is the clear frontrunner of his crew Honor Roll, even while Trackademicks has found more visibility in the industry thus far. And we love Trackademicks... and miss Josie Stingray... and all of Honor Roll. 1-OAK is just that ONE. Please check out another banger from his coming album, "Get Right" below.

Get Right from by Mancy. on Vimeo.

I'm telling you... we've been waiting for the Bay to get on. These are the singers who are poised to make that move. Some of my folks will think, "Dom! You're a singer!" Well, for now, this isn't about me. It's about some great singers who have put in work to perfect their craft. Please support these folks.

Much ❤,
DOM