Music

feature: dionne farris, the wildest flower

March 26, 2015

Singer and songwriter Dionne Farris was pushed into the spotlight after being featured on Arrested Development’s Grammy award winning single ‘Tennessee’. The single off the hip hop group’s 1992 debut album ‘3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of…’ jump started her career and would be followed by live performances on the MTV Movie Awards and the Arsenio Hall Show. She toured with the group as a contributor not as an official member and soon parted ways to begin her solo career.

By Cakes Da Killa, AFROPUNK Contributor

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A Jersey native, Farris’ craved her own artistic identify and control of her career. Her hard work would soon pay off after finally getting the opportunity to shine as a solo star. Her unique sound and sophisticated demeanor landed her a deal with Columbia Records under the guidance of established bassist and record producer Randy Jackson.

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‘I Know’ was the first single from her debut album ‘Wild Seed – Wild Flower’ released in 1995. The project hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and showcased Farris’ unique blend of funk, pop, folk and rock that solidified her own lane a mist the current musical landscape. The album was a huge hit and was followed by guest appearance on shows like Saturday Night Live and a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

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Her soulful delivery and heartfelt lyrics can be heard on the movie soundtracks of films like The Promise Land, First Wives Club, and my personal favorite ‘Hopeless’ that was included on the Love Jones soundtrack.

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After her departure from Columbia and a lengthy music hiatus a follow up album was released in 2007 entitled ‘For Truth If Not Love’. Since then Farris has released ‘Signs of Love’ in 2011, ‘Lady Dy’, ‘The Mixtape pt. 1’ in 2011 and her third album ‘Dionne Get Your Gunn: Featuring Russell Gunn Quartet with Dionne Farris’ in 2013.

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