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<h1 align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Ayo Announces February 21<sup>st</sup> Physical Release of New Album
<i>Billie-Eve<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Recently Joined John Legend in Paris for Western Union
<i>World of Betters</i> Event<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><u><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Special Album Release Show Set for February 22<sup>nd</sup> at S.O.B’s in New York City
<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><img width="320" height="320" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01CCBA80.F8C8C830" alt="Photo_Billie-Ev_300CMYK3-rlr"><img width="212" height="320" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image004.jpg@01CCBA80.F8C8C830" alt="adeline_au_pays_du_hip_hop-305551315-1323110297"></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">“… an easygoing blend of soul, folk and reggae sensibilities that isn't afraid to wear its heart on its sleeve. Her rich cultural background
and Bohemian nature have allowed her to develop into an independent and inventive rising star. The result is a collection of smart, worldly, bittersweet songs.” –
<b><i>NPR<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">..."a passionate vocalist who can switch it up between sultry/sexy and saccharine-sweet with consummate ease." – <b><i>BBC<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif"">“Ayo is something new. She’s fresh. She’s genuine. And she’s got something to say<span style="color:black">…outstanding…a testament to
her artistry…”</span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">–<b><i>The Couch Sessions</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">"Ayo's got a lot of spunk in her sound and a lot of embers burning quietly away." –
<b><i>All Music</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Acclaimed soul singer/songwriter
<b>Ayo</b> has announced that the U.S. physical release of her new album <b><i>Billie-Eve</i></b> is set for
<b>February 21, 2012</b>, on <b>MBM Records</b>. A special <b>New York City album release show</b> is planned for
<b>February 22<sup>nd</sup> </b>at <b>S.O.B.’s</b>. </span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Lead single
<b>"I’m Gonna Dance"</b> is streaming </span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><a href="http://soundcloud.com/hdriss17">here</a></span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"> now. Head
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx97iHXgVXk">here</a></span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""> to watch the video. The digital version of
<b><i>Billie-Eve</i></b> is <b>out now</b>.</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"">In other news, <b>
Ayo</b>, who is a platinum-selling artist in France, recently joined <b>John Legend</b> in Paris on December 2<sup>nd</sup> for their
<b>Western Union <i>World of Betters</i></b> event, the fourth of five celebrity <i>
Better </i>events that have involved <b>Alicia Keys</b>, <b>Pitbull,</b> <b>K’NAAN</b> and famed Bollywood singer
<b>Sunidhi Chauhan.</b> <b>Ayo</b> and <b>John Legend </b>searched the avenues of Paris for street musicians and invited them to join in on a free fan concert to support the
<b>Western Union <i>World of Betters</i> Contest</b>. The contest asks consumers how they would use $1000 to make the world a better place and is one component under the company’s new worldwide brand platform, “Moving Money for Better.” See highlights from
<b>Ayo</b>’s performance with <b>John </b></span><b><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Legend</span></b><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><a href="http://www.worldofbetters.com/artist/JohnLegend">here</a> and</span>
<span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"">listen to Ayo speak about her experience
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcnBhIVt2TQ&feature=related">here</a>. <o:p>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Born in Germany to a Romanian gypsy mother and a Nigerian father and then musically re-born in France,
<b>Ayo </b>has sold more than <b>1.5 million albums worldwide</b> since her debut 5 years ago.
<b>Ayo</b>'s music is rich with passion, purpose and identity. <b><i>Billie-Eve</i></b> - named after
<b>Ayo</b>'s daughter and a play on the word "believe" - melds the world beats, neo-soul folk and reggae inspirations for which Ayo has become beloved overseas. The new album also sees her exploring a more rock-based sound. It’s a global tapestry of influences
as eclectic as her own worldly background and features guitarist <b>Craig Ross (Lenny Kravitz)</b>, bassist
<b>Gail Ann Dorsey (David Bowie)</b>, hip-hop poet <b>Saul Williams</b>, and multi-instrumentalist
<b>Ayo</b> who plays electric and acoustic guitar, piano and drums. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif"">Ayo’s 2006 critically acclaimed debut Joy received double-platinum status in France and praise from the likes of
<b><i>NPR, BBC</i></b> and <b><i>The Guardian</i></b>. 2008's <b><i>Gravity At Last</i></b> hit
<b>#1 in France</b>. Since her breakout success, <b>Ayo</b> has shared the stage with the likes of
<b>Raphael Saadiq, Carlos Santana</b> and <b>Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, </b>performed on
<b><i>The Late Show with David Letterman</i></b> and <b><i>The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
</i></b>and was featured in a campaign for <b>Banana<i> </i>Republic</b>. In 2009, she was named a
<b>Unicef ambassador</b>, helping to promote children’s right to education around the world.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Photo Credit: Rene &
<span class="spelle">Radka</span> / <span class="spelle">Yann</span> <span class="spelle">
Orhan</span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><u><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Billie-Eve Official
<span class="spelle">Tracklisting</span>:</span></u></b><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">1.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">How Many People<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">2.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">I’m <span class="spelle">
Gonna</span> Dance<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">3.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Black Spoon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">4.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">I Can’t<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">5.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Flowers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">6.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Real Love<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">7.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Julia<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">8.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">My Man<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">9.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">It’s Too Late<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">10.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Who Are They?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">11.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">We’ve Got To<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">12.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Before<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">13.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">It Hurts<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">14.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">
</span><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Believe<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">15. I Want You Back<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">For more information on
<b>Ayo</b>, please contact:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Press Here<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">212-246-2640<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black">Carla Senft<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"><a href="mailto:carla@pressherepublicity.com" target="_blank">carla@pressherepublicity.com</a>
</span><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Cambria","serif";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Medium","sans-serif";color:purple">Carla Senft</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Medium","sans-serif";color:purple">Press Here
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Medium","sans-serif";color:purple">138 West 25th Street, 9th Floor</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Medium","sans-serif";color:purple">New York, New York 10001</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Medium","sans-serif";color:purple">Phone: 212-246-2640</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Medium","sans-serif";color:purple">Fax: 212-582-6513</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Franklin Gothic Medium","sans-serif";color:purple"><a href="http://www.presshere.com"><span style="color:blue">www.presshere.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><a href="http://twitter.com/presshere" title="http://twitter.com/presshere"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue">http://twitter.com/presshere</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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