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Biography
Nigel "NiyoRah" Olivacce was born on October
9, 1980 in the coastline village of Pointe Michel, Dominica. At age 4, he moved to St. Thomas,
U.S. Virgin Islands, with his family, and cultivated an interest in music through listening to
artists in his father's and uncle's roots reggae collections, including Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer,
Burning Spear and Lucky Dube. By age 16, NiyoRah began chanting on the streets about the life
experiences of the Savan ghetto in downtown Charlotte Amalie.
At age 18, NiyoRah decided to pursue a career in reggae
music. "Reggae had one of the greatest influences on my life. It's the type of music I
cling to for some mystical reason," he says. "The most high guided me more than
me myself."  He
took on the name NiyoRah - a combination of his nickname growing up and out of
respect for the omnipotent power of the sun. Music was a natural career choice because of his
musically gifted family. His grandfather is an award-winning vocalist who sings Negro spirituals
and gospel, while his aunt, Ophelia Olivacce Marie, is an international French-speaking artist
heralded as "Dominica's Songbird" for her style of cadence and calypso. In 1998, he was
introduced by local reggae radio personality Ras Manny to Black Juice Records, a Virgin
Islands-based recording company. He joined with six other reggae artists under the company to
co-found Star Lion Family. His voice can be heard on Star Lion Family's
EP "Brighter Days" released in November 2003.
NiyoRah's songs delve into a wide range of issues,
including cultural living, love for nature, strengthening of all peoples, especially Africans, and
spiritual growth. In concert, NiyoRah has performed in front of thousands,
sharing the same stage with artists such as Sizzla, Capleton, Junior Reid, Buju Banton, Bunny
Wailer, Glen Washington, Eve of Rough Riders, Midnite Band, Dezarie and Junior Kelly. NiyoRah's
debut solo album "A Different Age" - is scheduled for release in
May 2005 on I Grade Records.
For product information, booking information, or for interview or
dubplate requests, contact info@igraderecords or 646 226 1738. Sound samples can be found online
at I Grade Records.
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Interviews
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Listen to Ras Danny's July 26, 2005 interview of NiyoRah
in advance of his performance in Portland, Oregon that week as part of the I Grade
Summer 2005 Showcase that included NyoRah, Army, Abja
and Ancient King.
Ras Danny is the host of Higher Reasoning
Reggae Times which airs Sunday mornings from 1-6AM on KBOO, 90.7 FM, Portland, Oregon.
Click on image to hear interview
Running Time: 24:54 |
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Album
Reviews
Purification Session
Reggae Vibes:
About a year after he entered the
international modern roots arena with his strong full
length debut album, "A Different Age", NiyoRah returns
with a brand new album full of righteousness and
conscious messages. It's always interesting to see what
an artist delivers on his sophomore album, especially if
he has shown real potential on a debut album as in case
of NiyoRah. After having listened to "Purification
Session" one can only conclude that this collection of
tunes surpasses all that has come before. -
More
Reggae Reviews:
NiyoRah returns with righteousness and
conscious messages, delivered with a youthful exuberance
and confidence exemplified by the title of the opening
track, "Nothing to Prove." Despite a relatively
adolescent tone to his voice and several bouncy,
danceable tracks, this album flaunts an unwavering
militancy. Check out this line from "How It Is": "By any
means, I will defend the poor. / I will shoot a wicked
man and close the coffin door." Indeed, the name
Purification Session is appropriate, as the sing-jay
seeks to cleanse wickedness with a scorched earth
policy. -
More
Achi's Reggae Blog:
Another
album I have held in similar regard over the past couple
of years or so as being a GREAT piece is definitely the
wonderfully titled Purification Session from Rock City
based Dominican born chanter/singer NiyoRah. Not only
did this album virtually catapult itself near the top of
my list as far as albums go, it also did the same for
the artist as well upon its release back in 2006 from
Laurent ‘Tippy’ Alfred’s I-Grade Records. Now
Purification Session was one which came with a ‘primer’
for me because I had thoroughly enjoyed Niyo’s very
first album the year before, A Different Age, which
definitely opened my senses to receiving the next album
after it (incidentally, I should just mention that A
Different Age was a part of the biggest promotion I’ve
ever known I-Grade to half as it virtually
simultaneously released it along with Conquering Sound
from Ancient King and Rasta Awake from Army and I find
it VERY interesting that the only artist for whom they
have released an album since then has been NiyoRah).
-
More
A Different Age
Reggae Vibes:
In recent years we have been treated to some great reggae music coming from the
small islands of St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John, all being part of the Virgin
Islands. Artists such as Dezarie, Ikahba, Pressure, Abja and Army along with bands like
Midnite and Bambu Station are continuously evolving and pushing the roots music and sound
back into the foreground. With their releases and tours they have managed to gain many
devoted roots fans. The latter are now treated to the third album release within I Grade's
New Release Trilogy... NiyoRah's "A Different Age". - More
Reggae Reviews:
NiyoRah is an up-and-coming Dominican-born, St. Thomas-raised artist who you may
have heard as part of the Star Lion Family (heard on the compilation Talkin' Roots Volume
1, amongst other albums). He stands out from the mass of sing-jays out there
with not only his expressive vocals, but also his ability to sing, chat, and even rap a
bit (Purists should know that the rapping is kept to a minimum, though.). His lyrics
are likewise unique and insightful, as on his scathing attack on school menus in
"Clowns Around Us": - More
Achi's Reggae Blog:
A Different Age came as the ‘earth’
portion of I Grade’s outstanding ‘Fire - Earth - Wind’
promotion of a trio of releases in 2005, alongside
Ancient King’s Conquering Sound (fire) and Army’s Rasta
Awake (wind). Well, in retrospect, perhaps there’s a
reason why I Grade IMMEDIATELY had NiyoRah back the
following year for the followup, because they, like me,
recognized that A Different Age was the best of that
very SOLID lot. -
More
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