Laila Tov

Those who provide mercy will always find grace.



If there were ever one voice, face, and talent that could define eclectic modern soul music it would belong to Laila Tov. Very few artists possess the natural charisma and engaging energy that permeates when this young singer/song-writer/emcee/musician/performer takes the stage. Her quirky yet sultry sound evokes the imagery of an energetic Billie Holiday who was raised on funk and hip-hop. Of Kenyan and Jewish descent, Laila’s diverse background not only makes her visually intriguing but sonically as well, as she utilizes sounds from all over the world to color her compositions. Laila’s lyrical musings are warm-hearted anthems which are quite eccentric yet staggeringly relatable to the average person. She is unlike any other artist out, yet is diverse enough in her talents to be compatible with a wide array of arists in various mediums. Always an innovator, Laila never chooses to duplicate the current trends of music, but her natural flair is often enough to spark new styles and come off to listeners as a breath of fresh air.

Born in the cultural melting pot that is the San Francisco Bay Area, Laila grew up between the lower Haight district and the dangerous streets of Richmond studying music under her mother, acclaimed jazz and opera vocalist Jill Jenice. The booming sounds of the wild club scene found a young Laila dazzling crowds of often older hip night dwellers with her precocious breakdancing and freestyle rhyming skills. She has the uncanny ability to remain feminine while outrapping her testosterone fuled male counterparts in her many fabled duels on the competitive battle circuit. This energy has translated very well to her stage career, where Ms. Tov clearly flourishes being the gregarious yet modest center of attention.

One of Laila’s greatest assets is the unique diversity of her varied abilities. She is able to weave between her more movement based fast paced rapping into Motown-style melodic hooks with a seamless cohesion. On other songs she brings a jazzier down-tempo cool vibe which is ideal for the lounge atmosphere. She comes with a light energy and realism that anyone can relate to on every song, and delivers with a soulful passion that simultaneously moves the body, stimulates the mind, and touches the heart. Laila Tov continues to grow and evolve as an artist every day, for that is what she was born to do. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss out on potentially one of the most intriguing new voices of the millennium.