Vocals/ Words/ Music/ vegan snacks: Gina Loring, Beatbox/ silly self deprecating humor: Joshua Silverstein, Bass/ ridiculously goofy spoken word: Keith Eaddy,
Drums/ master of funk and grime: Robert Miller, Tap/ sexy sister: Chloe Arnold, Percussion/ ill MC aka Mic Holden: Allakoi Peete,
Keys/ Music director/BFF : Brandon Coleman, Guitar/ Engineer/ all around great guy: Curt Piar, Production/ play cousin: Amil G.
Influences
Lady Day, Bob Marley, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Otis Redding, Native Tongues, Bahamadia, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, De La Soul, Pharoahe Monch, Dead Prez, Saul Williams, Amel Larrieux, Common, Ani Difranco, Lauryn Hill, Lenny Kravitz, Outkast, Goodie Mob, Etta James, Edith Piaf, Hip Hop that came out during the years 1988-1998, lots of dope poets.
“When you get past her God given beauty, her God given INNER talent holds your attention just as strong!”
- Pos, De La Soul
With a rich, soulful voice, thought provoking lyrics, and a powerful stage presence, Gina Loring is in a league of her own. The top ranking female poet at the 2002 National Poetry Slam, she was featured on two seasons of HBO's Russell Simmons' Def Poetry and BET's Lyric Cafe. Following several showcases produced by Norman Lear, she was hired as a writer/ performer on his "Declare Yourself" tour. In conjunction with Diddy's "Vote or Die" campaign and Rock the Vote, Gina helped to register thousands of young voters. She was also a featured vocalist/songwriter on the Brand New Heavies album "We Won't Stop" and has been mentored by such artists as Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch, Suzan-Lori Parks and Marla Gibbs.
In 2007, Gina went to Kuwait as a guest of the American Embassy’s cultural envoy program and according to the American Embassy and Kuwaiti records, made history as the first American hip hop artist to perform in Kuwait. While there, she made several television appearances, performed her original poetry and music to packed crowds, and conducted poetry workshops. She was invited back for a second trip in 2008 to teach a ten-day intensive poetry workshop with Kuwaiti high school students. In 2008, Gina visited Paris, France, where she was warmly received at performances at Notre Dame de la Croix, Opus Café and Café Universel. Gina wrote and starred in a currently airing Women in Film PSA and was awarded the prestigious Bibby scholarship to the Idyllwild Intensive Poetry workshop, where she studied under Pulitzer Prize winning poet Natasha Trethewey.
A graduate of Spelman College, Gina also attended Columbia University, where she studied under renowned Hip Hop historian Michael Eric Dyson. A gifted actress, Gina starred in a production of George C. Wolfe's "The Colored Museum" and various theatrical shorts during her time in the Atlanta/ Tri-State areas. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Gina would like to follow in the footsteps of such pioneers as Ruby Dee and Lena Horne in positively contributing through her art.
With influences ranging from classic Hip Hop to Nina Simone to Sonia Sanchez, her highly reflective lyrics demonstrate her ability to reveal the intimate. Gina is one of very few artists who seamlessly balance music and poetry, both of her talents equally strong enough to stand on their own. Encompassing such subjects as love, spirituality and social activism, her work is raw and passionate, yet always presented with the grace that seems inherent in this young woman's spirit. She is the daughter of actor William Marshall, cousin of actor Paul Winfield and Jazz composer/musician Teddy Edwards Sr., and she would like to dedicate her work to their memory. Above all else, Gina lives, creates and moves forward in honor of the life of her brother, Malcolm Marshall.
To read the latest article about Gina, go to:
http://www.in-color.net/index.php/article/she_moves_us
Hey Gina, Got your album in the mail two weeks ago. I love it, love it, love it. I play it almost everyday. I love feelin good, 41 shots and world wide the most. I didn't know you had vocals like that. I thought it was a spoken word album, but this is better than some poetry album. I think you should work on a book of poetry next. Peace and Love!!!
