Taiyo Na, a 25-year old renaissance man of word, sound and action, released his first full-length solo album Love Is Growth in March of 2008 through Issilah Productions.

Influenced as much by Curtis Mayfield as it is Nas, Ben Harper or Chris Iijima, Love Is Growth is a blend of gritty New York hip-hop and classic American soul. Featuring collaborations with singers Vudoo Soul, Conchita Campos and Emily C. Chang, rapper/producer Koba, jazz violinist Jason Kao Hwang, guitarists Minimum Tek of Outernational and Mark Concerto of P.I.C. and more, the album is composed, arranged and produced entirely by Taiyo. Socially conscious, often funky and always personal, the album showcases the artist’s urgency, scope and depth through songs such as the champion’s anthem title track, the pulsating introduction “One More Time” and the ethereal rock-soul ballad “Take My Breath Away.”
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Tags: acoustic, asian american, beau sia, blues, emcee, Entertainment, hip hop, ishle yi park, music, new york, poetry, Singer, songwriter, Soul, taiyo na

Christopher D. Vu admits as a child, he was jealous of children who received music lessons. It seems that soul filled music was always deeply embedded within his heart. While fully enrolled as an engineering student at MIT, Vu joined a a-cappella group called the MIT Logarhythms. This extracurricular activity of stage performances helped fuel his fire for musical experience and touring with the MIT group proved to be very rewarding. Soon he purchased a digital piano, teaching himself how to play and write music. It was attending an Alicia Keys concert that inspired him along the path of a musical career.
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Tags: American Idol, Kollaboration, music, Singer, Soul, Vietnamese, Vudoo Soul