Oumar Ndiaye, also know as Umaro , was born in Dakar and spent his childhood on Gorée Island. He is responsible for a new African sound that emphasizes Wolof and Sereer rhythms intertwined with Pulaar and Mandinka music. A successful artist in his native Senegal, Umaro started touring regularly in Europe and North America and in 2008 relocated to Canada.
Smokey Hormel has had a strong presence on many influential records. Beck's grammy winning Morning Phase, Sea Change and Mutations, Adele's 21, Johnny Cash's Hurt, Tom Waits' Mule Variations to name a few plus others by Neil Diamond, Wanda Jackson, Joe Strummer, Marianne Faithful, Justin Timberlake, and Norah Jones - he has also deeply influenced by African and Brazilian music - as demonstrated by the music of his group Smokey’s Secret Family. Oumar and Smokey are working on a duo album.
