I am a Tree

This summer, Sitali will release his debut album, "I Am a Tree," which combines the Washington singer/songwriter's unorthodox use of vintage guitars with his earnest and soulful lyrics. Sitali has created a rock record with a timeless sound by drawing on a wide background of rock, soul and world music. His lush and textured vocals create soundscapes that sometimes delight and other times haunt. It will be released July 7. In the poignant Veteran's Day, Sitali sings about themes as grand as war and loss. "Yes I died for no reason by the mouth of a gun... My name, my name, is as old as a melody; now it's written in stone, on a black granite wall." He draws on the imagery of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., where the album was recorded. The Delta blues infused Black Star calls on the strength and tenacity of enslaved Africans and exclaims, "I sooth my agony in song, now you see why I am so strong." It is this strength and the triumph of the human spirit - regardless of age, race or ethnicity -- that is most apparent on "I Am a Tree." Sitali's music spans genres and draws heavily on the influences of his international childhood. Sitali was born in New York City, the son of Zambian diplomats, and began learning guitar in Cairo, Egypt, when he was only seven years old. Early on he absorbed the sounds of North Africa and the Middle East. He continued his music education in Moscow, Russia, and later at boarding school in England where he performed in various theatrical productions. For "I Am a Tree," Sitali collaborated with bassist and vocalist Jean-Francis Varre, who shares his love of roots rock. Drum virtuoso and producer John Lane rounds out the trio. The album also features contributions from D.C.-local Ben Andrews. Sitali has performed at a variety of Washington venues including the D.C. Arts Center, Fort Dupont, Takoma Station and Bossa. He first began recording in England in 1983 at the Sussex studio of record producer Glyn Johns who worked with the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, and Led Zeppelin. After that, Sitali moved between Washington, New York and Seattle, recording with Juju House who has also recorded with Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack and Grace Jones; bassist Scott Ambush who now plays with Spyro Gyra; and keyboardist Frederico Pena who has played with Maxwell and M'eshell Ndege Ocello. He also shared the stage with jazz organist Jimmy Smith, the Average White Band, Funk/Gogo master Chuck Brown, and Eva Cassidy. "I Am a Tree" was produced in Washington, D.C., at Trans Am National Recording Studio and Smurph Productions. It will be released Thursday, July 7, at 8 p.m. at a party at the Eighteenth Street Lounge, 1212 18th Street NW.