Josephine Oniyama: Momentum
Manchester’s soulful chanteuse, Josephine, has a vocal that recalls ‘the Queen of gospel’, Mahalia Jackson’s distinctive contralto, and yet, behind the powerful delivery is a husky undercurrent making every replaying seem like a personal performance.
Born to a Liberian mother Josephine has enjoyed the advantages of a colourful West African culture as well as feeling intrinsically British. Born in the Manchester suburb of Hulme before soon moving to nearby Cheetham Hill, she soaked up the musical heritage of the city and that of the household, like a sponge.
Funding will go towards Josephine’s second album.