About Joanna Borromeo

Being an artist who is known to enjoy musical contrasts, Joanna Borromeo (pronounced "Boro-MAY-o") fits soulful vocal melodies with backbeat-heavy, R&B grooves and jazzy musical arrangements.  She is a musical explorer.  She began as a classical pianist, eventually turning to jazz to discover her love for musical improvisation, composition and contemporary music theory.  Joanna's professional career started with Joanna as a freelancing keyboardist and back up singer for other artists, playing everything from contemporary gospel, to world music, to R&B, to pop/country, to folk and even electro-rock.  Her freelancing career has taken her to several corners of the world.  In 2010, she changed directions to become a solo artist and hasn't looked back.  Always wearing her heart on her sleeve, Joanna doesn't hold back when it comes to singing about her life as an artist and a love-seeker.  Her first EP, Through the Dark (2010), is an award-winning album which features songs that have twice been shortlisted in the R&B songwriting categories of the John Lennon Songwriting Competition and the Great American Song Contest.  Her latest album, Kaleidoscope (2013), reveals a more vulnerable side to Joanna.  She speaks of failure, picking up the pieces, and the grey area that humans often find themselves in when in love.  More than just a seasoned keyboard player, Joanna is a multi-hyphenate, showing equal strength as a singer, songwriter, composer and producer.

Press Quotes

"She’s got a sweet voice, but it’s incredibly powerful and full of so much soul it’s almost frightening. It’s magically smooth, almost as if she took all the grit of soul music and added a bit of polish. Truly, a gifted singer with a very simple and heartfelt writing style."
-I Am PR Agency (March 2013) 

"Kaleidoscope...is a consistently remarkable blend of Pop, Soul and Jazz. Each song is masterfully crafted and produced, making Kaleidoscope a contender for one of the best independent Soul releases of the year."
-The Next 2 Shine's Watch List (March 2013) 

"Kaleidoscope is very well put together in every sense of the phrase. The instrumentation is tight throughout, the vocals never falter, and the format is, in my opinion, immaculate."
-Might Andy, BamaLoveSoul.com (March 2013) 

"Spectacular jazz vocals."
-Exclaim! Magazine (February 2013) 

"Sexy and majestic."
-The Fly (February 2013)

"When an outstanding musician, better yet a drummer, tells you to check out an artist trust they just dropped a musical gem on you!....The musicality, her soulful vocal instrument and the album recording is so in your face and so sonically pleasing..."
-Really Not Radio (January 2013)

"Joanna's the real deal. In an age of mass-produced "artistry" and pimply-faced YouTube wannabes, she stands apart. She's clearly done her homework, having studied the legendary and contemporary voices of R & B and Soul music. But Joanna's gone that necessary step further: she's synthesized her many influences into a style that pays homage to the greats without resorting to clichés, or pure mimicry. Joanna's emerged as the artist's artist, with a unique and refreshing sound. I can only hope the industry will fully embrace her and her music for its virtuosity, depth, brilliance, and sheer greased-up funkiness!" 
-Andrew Craig, CBC Radio (November, 2012)

"[Kaleidoscope] is Joanna's sophomore solo release.  She's an incredible pianist, vocalist and songwriter.  When all combined she turns out some awesome R&B with a mix of eclectic flavour and pop sensibility."
-Radtastic, CSJW 90.9 FM (November, 2012)

Artists/Bands Joanna has performed and shared the stage with:
Mike Phillips (Stevie Wonder), Mark Sexton Band, David Myles, Kate Rogers, Divine Brown, Slakah the Beatchild, Tingsek, Ebrahim Lakhani, The Outlanders, Saidah Baba Talibah, Miles Jones, Soular, Shugga, Kalabash, God Made Me Funky, Molly Johnson, Jackie Richardson, Ada Lee, Kelly Lee Evans, Alana Bridgewater, The Gospel Christmas Project.

Artists Joanna has toured with:
David Myles, Divine Brown, Slakah the Beatchild, Kate Rogers Band, God Made Me Funky, Kalabash.

Artists/Producers Joanna has recorded with:
Dragon Fli Empire, Ghosts of Venice, Bitfunk, Häzel, David Myles, Joel Plaskett, Raffi.