Morley (singer)

Morley Kamen, known professionally as Morley, is an American singer-songwriter. Born in New York City, a Jamaica, Queens native, Morley has released four studio albums, including Undivided in 2012.

Morley
Birth nameMorley Kamen
BornJamaica, Queens, New York City, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • record producer
InstrumentsVocalist
Years active1998–present
Labelsindependent
Websitemorleymusic.org

Biography

Morley began her performing career as a dancer and choreographer/poet, and taught yoga in community centers and shelters around the NY tristate area.[1][2] By the mid-1990s she began writing songs, and in 1998 she released her first album, Sun Machine, on Sony/Work.[1] Allmusic writer Tom Demalon called it an "impressive [debut] that infuses her melodic brand of adult pop with folk, world, and jazz."[3] Martin Johnson of Newsday wrote that the album's songs "recalled the socially conscious soul of the early '70s."[4] Spin's Tracey Pepper suggested that the album shared qualities of those by Annie Lennox and Tracey Thorn[5] while Time compared Morley to Sade and Portishead.[4]

Morley released her second album, Days Like These, in 2005, followed by Seen in 2008. Thom Jurek of Allmusic praised Seen as "an album so original and poetically beautiful, it deserves its own category."[6] On album track "Women of Hope", Jurek remarked: "Morley prays for and celebrates those women who suffer in the hellholes of the world – from American ghettos to the killing fields of Sudan – without once sounding preachy or holier-than-thou or precious."[6]

In addition to releasing records, Morley is engaged in conflict resolution work with teens from conflict zones, here in the US and abroad.[2] She has performed for several TED events and for such world leaders as the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and Ban Ki-moon.[2][7]

Morley's fourth album, Undivided, was released in April 2012. Recorded with such guests as Joan Wasser, Raul Midón, and David Amram, the album was inspired by trips Morley had taken to Paris and parts of North Africa.[2][7] The music video for the single "Wild Bird", directed by Damani Baker, was filmed in the Sahara.[7][8]

In August 2012 Morley published her fifth album, "Yoga Release (Rhythms & Improv)", an exploration of rhythm and spiritual warrior survival.

Discography
  • Sun Machine (1998)
  • Days Like These (2005)
  • Seen (2008)
  • Undivided (2012)
  • Yoga Release (Rhythms & Improv) (2012)
  • Thousand Miles (2018)
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References
  1. Ankeny, Jason. "Morley – Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  2. "Morley Pushes For Peacemaking Through Music". NPR. April 2, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  3. Demalon, Tom. "'Sun Machine' – Review". Allmusic. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  4. Johnson, Martin (May 14, 2004). "Whatever her setting, Morley makes it work". Newsday. p. B-38.
  5. Pepper, Tracey (December 1998). "Incoming". Spin. SPIN Media LLC. 14 (12): 60. ISSN 0886-3032.
  6. Jurek, Thom. "'Seen' – Review". Allmusic. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  7. Anderson, Kristen E. (April 3, 2012). "Musician (and World Traveler) Morley Debuts New Album". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  8. Pryor, Tom (January 6, 2012). "Video Selecter: Morley". National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
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