by Jason Birchmeier
Championed by British tastemakers Gilles Peterson and Mark Ronson, London-based neo-soul singer Tawiah found herself in the media spotlight well before she'd released her official debut album. Born in Battersea and a graduate of the Brit School, she got her professional start as a studio background vocalist for Corinne Bailey Rae, among others. Mark Ronson, an acclaimed producer who'd experienced mass success with Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse, then hired her as the female vocalist for his live band. Meanwhile, influential BBC Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson championed her song "Watch Out" in 2007 and also named her the recipient of his Worldwide Award for Best Newcomer. In the midst of the mounting media hype, Tawiah took time to record In Jodi's Bedroom (2008), an introductory six-track EP featuring "Watch Out," and released it independently on her label Bush Girl.