ASCAP Urban Presents: On the Come Up Showcase

In 2020, Charlotte Dos Santos was in Oslo when life as we knew it ground to a halt. The Norwegian-Brazilian artist already had the makings of her debut album sketched out. Plenty of songs, crafted as she wrote her stunning 2020 EP Harvest Time, were nearly ready to go. But she ripped those up, and started afresh. In the stillness of isolation, padding around a brightly lit flat with her husband, she reformed the foundations of her debut album, Morfo, out in autumn 2022 on Because Music. 

Growing up with her Brazilian father and Norwegian mother, Charlotte imbibed music without the limitation of genre. Morfo harks back to that rich archive, casting a warm glow over universal themes from partnership and trust to betrayal. Even when her words are sharp, as on “Bye” or single “Hello Hello”, the timbre of Charlotte’s voice softens the blow. She also stands more boldly in the footprints walked by her Brazilian ancestors. The result is a body of work steeped in history – both personal and familial – yet timeless.

Morfo didn’t always sound like this, though. By early 2020 Charlotte had wowed listeners with her two EPs. Both were critically acclaimed, picking up praise from The Fader, The Observer, Wonderland Magazine, Pitchfork, The Independent, Bandcamp and more. Cleo earned her a Newcomer of the Year nomination at the Norwegian Grammy Awards, while Harvest Time’s title track was playlisted at BBC 6Music and its single “Helio” added to numerous New Music Friday Spotify playlists. Then, her planned US tour was cancelled. She was propelled instead into a cocoon of writing and rewriting. She elbowed aside the pressures to be productive for productivity’s sake during the pandemic’s height. And she trusted herself and her collaborators to share her most personal, exposing work to date.

When it comes to songwriting, “I've always thought it has to be honest, and it has to be true. And I tried to take that, but also make it a little bit lighter. It doesn't have to be so sad, I realised”, especially in the depths of so much despair in COVID-19’s shadow. Rather, you can find your centre. “Take a breath; just do one thing at a time. Most importantly we have to be us. We have to do us. What's life if we can't do that?”

Hailing from Vallejo, CA, Zyah Belle is a talented recording artist, singer-songwriter, and producer, known for her strong skills in vocal arrangement, songwriting, and background vocals. Now based between Portland, OR and Los Angeles, Zyah is focused on her artistry as a solo act. She combines her sultry, jazz-inspired voice with honest, vulnerable lyrics, lush vocal harmonies and rich melodies.
 
Since 2016, Zyah has recorded, written and vocal produced for the likes of Snoop Dogg and his daughter CHOC, Terrance Martin, Freddie Gibbs, and Grammy award-winning producers such as 1500 or Nothin’, and more. More recently, she performed and recorded for Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir and participated on their choir’s Creative Team, by way of creative directing movement, choreography, and stage direction. Additionally, Zyah is listed as a vocalist on the Grammy and Billboard Award-Winning Jesus is King album. 
 
Zyah Belle was previously honored with the SAMMIES "Best R&B Artist of The Year" Award, the Robert Brookins "Rising Star" Award and has been previously featured in Complex Magazine, Essence, VIBE, Uproxx, Portland Mercury, Sacramento News and Review, and NPR. Zyah also has amassed nearly 2 million streams between Spotify, Apple Music, and Soundcloud. 

Dylan Sinclair began writing and recording at age 15 and issued his debut indie record, Red Like Crimson, in 2018 that caught the attention of GRAMMY and JUNO Award-nominated Toronto producer Jordon Manswell (Daniel Caesar, Mariah Carey). In 2020, the duo collaborated on their first effort, "Proverb," which garnered them a highly coveted nomination for Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of The Year at the 2021 JUNO Awards and has accumulated 30 million streams to date.

Recently named one of Apple Music and Complex’s R&B Artists to Watch for in 2022, Sinclair recently released his breakout EP, No Longer In The Suburbs via Five Stone Records. The coming-of-age record finds Dylan stepping into himself and transitioning from teenager to young adult – remaining grounded, authentic, and aware that this is just the beginning.

Yah Yah is a gifted songstress raised in Atlantic City, NJ whose vocal abilities have soothed audiences since her adolescent years. With motherhood & marriage in the works, she has made it her mission to set an example for women; that these add to your journey & don’t hinder your elevation. In 2013-2017, she toured with Multi-Platinum Recording Artist Shaggy after being featured on his 2013 album Out Of Many One Music. The Yah Yah name came along at the end of 2019 when she decided it was time to rebrand and take her music to the next level. Since then she has had multiple releases such as “All Bad’ and “Gratitude” to name a few. Yah Yah has worked alongside music producers such as Sly and Robbie, Needlz, Dominic Gordon, & Ayo & Keyz as an artist and songwriter.