Antoniette Costa
Encyclopedia
Antoniette Costa is a singer-songwriter
based in Philadelphia and New York City
, who has collaborated with or performed alongside artists such as The Roots
, Jazmine Sullivan
, Bilal, Eric Roberson
, and Carvin Haggins. She released her debut album Breakthru
in March 2005, and has additionally recorded over a dozen singles with musicians such as Jazzyfatnastees
, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
, Kindred the Family Soul
and Grammy Award
winners James Poyser
and Questlove.
She has performed and directed live in-studio recording sessions in New York City
open to the public, drawing largely from Columbia University
's student body where Costa is a student. Called the "Track 14 Sessions," guest musicians have included members of The Roots
and Nikki Jean
. In September 2011, she released the single "Void of a Legend" with cellist beatboxer
Kevin "K.O." Olusola. Costa is a contributor to Organice Your Life Team, an online health magazine from model Lonneke Engel
.
and has dual United States and Italian citizenship. She began writing songs in middle school, composing both the music and lyrics. She sings and plays piano
, harp
, and guitar
.
In 2004 Costa began attending Cornell University
. She lived in the Just About Music residence and became lead singer for the band LR9. As a freshman, Costa was a part of the university's gospel
choir. She performed in Sage Chapel
with the group for Yolanda King
. Costa transferred to the University of Pennsylvania
as a sophomore after her aunt Lilly died during childbirth. She discovered 14 poems written by her aunt, and was inspired to spend time focused on songwriting and music in dedication. She currently studies at Columbia University
.
on March 1, 2005. Some of the tracks are piano ballads, while others are accompanied by a band. Dedicated to her aunt, the album featured 12 songs that had been written from middle-school to college, including "Flown Away." The album ranked #1 on Amazon
's Early Adopter Indie Music Chart and #69 on the Early Adopter All Music Chart.
, the Philadelphia-based rapper and A&R
of The Roots
, discovered Breakthru and began working with Costa. Through Dice she began writing and rehearsing at Larry Gold's "The Studio" in Philadelphia, where she worked with drummer Questlove, producer Khari "Ferrari" Mateen, Jon Jon McGlincey, and close friend Nikki Jean
.
Costa graduated as an English major from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008. She was a columnist for The Daily Pennsylvanian
. She moved to New York City
to work for MTV
in their Business and Legal Affairs and Music and Media Licensing Departments. She is currently a post-bac
student at Columbia University
.
On November 5, 2008, Costa had a private showcase for her single "Ready to Make it Work" at the Le Poisson Rouge in New York City
. The event included DJ sets by Questlove and Samantha Ronson
.
Throughout 2010 Costa released a number of singles, including "We Were Meant To Be" and "Sinking Deeper." "We Were Meant to Be" was Costa's collaboration with co-writer Carvin Haggins and pianist James Poyser
, who has worked with Mariah Carey
.
Richard Nichols, the manager of The Roots and executive producer of Lay It Down
by Al Green
, took a liking to Costa's song "The Gift." He has since produced "The Gift" and "Ready to Make It Work." The track features musicians James Poyser, Questlove, Steve Jordan
and Kindred the Family Soul
. Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
remixed "Ready to Make it Work."
. The series opened up Costa's recording sessions to the public, and featured guest performances by Nikki Jean
and Khari Mateen. According to Costa, the sessions are "meant to unveil what goes on in the recording studio ... It's an intimate live performance where people can hear raw vocals and instrumentation with amplification." "Track 14" refers to the train Costa takes to travel between New York City and Philadelphia, as she regularly rehearses and records in both cities. Costa also announced that she will release a live album based on the sessions.
frontman James Murphy, who was a mutual friend at Wyclef Jean
's studio in New Jersey
. Olusola is a known as beat-boxing cellist. He and Costa collaborated on recording "Void of a Legend," which Costa wrote. It was released as a single on August 25, 2011, and debuted at No. 51 on the U.S. iTunes Classical Music Chart
. A music video was released and featured on the CBS
website.
and soul singer
Jazmine Sullivan
. Many of her lyrical themes center around family, personal experiences, and literature, and has stated "For me, writing a song is like bottling an emotion in its most potent form."
According to the Columbia Spectator, Costa more closely identifies with gospel singers using their intuition, as compared to classically trained musicians. "I’m afraid that by taking a music theory class, I’m not going to be as creative,” she said. “Not knowing what’s right or wrong or what’s typical composition-wise makes my music more free in the sense that I’m not trying to assume an ABA-structure or something like that.”
, and has an online magazine focused on health, wellness, and nutrition. Since joining, she has interviewed Regina Spektor
's vocal coach Wendy Parr and Hines Ward
, the wide receiver
who won Dancing With The Stars
.
Singles
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
based in Philadelphia and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, who has collaborated with or performed alongside artists such as The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
, Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Marie Sullivan is an American recording artist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is also the protégé of rapper Missy Elliott. Her debut single "Need U Bad" reached number one on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while her second single, "Bust Your Windows" peaked at number four...
, Bilal, Eric Roberson
Eric Roberson
Eric Roberson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter from Rahway, New Jersey, United States. He is sometimes referred to simply as Erro....
, and Carvin Haggins. She released her debut album Breakthru
Breakthru (Costa album)
Breakthru is the self-released debut album by American singer-songwriter Antoniette Costa. It was released on her label L.I.P. Label 14 on March 1, 2005.-History:...
in March 2005, and has additionally recorded over a dozen singles with musicians such as Jazzyfatnastees
Jazzyfatnastees
Jazzyfatnastees is a vocal duo, Tracey Moore and Mercedes Martinez . Originally, a vocal quartet, they landed a deal with Tommy Boy in 1993...
, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Antibalas is a Brooklyn-based afrobeat band that is modeled after Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive Orchestra...
, Kindred the Family Soul
Kindred the Family Soul
Kindred the Family Soul, also referred to as Kindred, are an American R&B, soul, and neo soul duo consisting of the married couple of Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon...
and Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winners James Poyser
James Poyser
James Poyser in Sheffield, England is a multi-Grammy winning songwriter, musician and multi-platinum producer.Poyser has written and produced songs for various legendary and award-winning artists including Erykah Badu, Mariah Carey, John Legend, Lauryn Hill, Common, Anthony Hamilton, D'Angelo,...
and Questlove.
She has performed and directed live in-studio recording sessions in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
open to the public, drawing largely from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
's student body where Costa is a student. Called the "Track 14 Sessions," guest musicians have included members of The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
and Nikki Jean
Nikki Jean
Nikki Jean is a singer-songwriter, musician, and occasional actress from the United States. She was a part of the band Nouveau Riche, an indie/hip-hop band based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. She is also featured on Lupe Fiasco's second album, The Cool, as a lyricist and vocalist...
. In September 2011, she released the single "Void of a Legend" with cellist beatboxer
Beatboxing
Beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of producing drum beats, rhythm, and musical sounds using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. It may also involve singing, vocal imitation of turntablism, and the simulation of horns, strings, and other musical instruments...
Kevin "K.O." Olusola. Costa is a contributor to Organice Your Life Team, an online health magazine from model Lonneke Engel
Lonneke Engel
Lonneke Engel is a Dutch fashion model. Discovered by Bruce Weber, some of her first clients included Abercrombie & Fitch, Ralph Lauren, and Chanel...
.
Early life
Antoniette Costa was raised in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and has dual United States and Italian citizenship. She began writing songs in middle school, composing both the music and lyrics. She sings and plays piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
, and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
.
In 2004 Costa began attending Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. She lived in the Just About Music residence and became lead singer for the band LR9. As a freshman, Costa was a part of the university's gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
choir. She performed in Sage Chapel
Sage Chapel
Sage Chapel is the non-denominational chapel on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York State and serves as the final resting place of the university's founders, Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, and their wives...
with the group for Yolanda King
Yolanda King
Yolanda Denise King was the first-born child of Coretta Scott King and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...
. Costa transferred to the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
as a sophomore after her aunt Lilly died during childbirth. She discovered 14 poems written by her aunt, and was inspired to spend time focused on songwriting and music in dedication. She currently studies at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
Breakthru (2005)
Costa founded her own record label L.I.P. Label 14, and independently released her debut album BreakthruBreakthru (Costa album)
Breakthru is the self-released debut album by American singer-songwriter Antoniette Costa. It was released on her label L.I.P. Label 14 on March 1, 2005.-History:...
on March 1, 2005. Some of the tracks are piano ballads, while others are accompanied by a band. Dedicated to her aunt, the album featured 12 songs that had been written from middle-school to college, including "Flown Away." The album ranked #1 on Amazon
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
's Early Adopter Indie Music Chart and #69 on the Early Adopter All Music Chart.
The Roots collaborations
Dice RawDice Raw
Dice Raw is a hip-hop artist associated with The Roots, and one of the founding members of musical group Nouveau Riche.In 2000, Dice Raw recorded his solo debut album, Reclaiming the Dead on MCA Records....
, the Philadelphia-based rapper and A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
of The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
, discovered Breakthru and began working with Costa. Through Dice she began writing and rehearsing at Larry Gold's "The Studio" in Philadelphia, where she worked with drummer Questlove, producer Khari "Ferrari" Mateen, Jon Jon McGlincey, and close friend Nikki Jean
Nikki Jean
Nikki Jean is a singer-songwriter, musician, and occasional actress from the United States. She was a part of the band Nouveau Riche, an indie/hip-hop band based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. She is also featured on Lupe Fiasco's second album, The Cool, as a lyricist and vocalist...
.
Costa graduated as an English major from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008. She was a columnist for The Daily Pennsylvanian
The Daily Pennsylvanian
The Daily Pennsylvanian is the independent daily student newspaper of the University of Pennsylvania.It is published every weekday when the university is in session by a staff of more than 250 students. During the summer months, a smaller staff produces a weekly version called The Summer...
. She moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to work for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
in their Business and Legal Affairs and Music and Media Licensing Departments. She is currently a post-bac
Postbaccalaureate program
Some colleges and universities offer programs for which a first undergraduate degree is a pre-requisite, but which are usually not considered traditional graduate education...
student at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
On November 5, 2008, Costa had a private showcase for her single "Ready to Make it Work" at the Le Poisson Rouge in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The event included DJ sets by Questlove and Samantha Ronson
Samantha Ronson
Samantha Judith Ronson is an English singer-songwriter and disc jockey who lives in Los Angeles, California.-Biography:Ronson was born in London and raised in St John's Wood...
.
Throughout 2010 Costa released a number of singles, including "We Were Meant To Be" and "Sinking Deeper." "We Were Meant to Be" was Costa's collaboration with co-writer Carvin Haggins and pianist James Poyser
James Poyser
James Poyser in Sheffield, England is a multi-Grammy winning songwriter, musician and multi-platinum producer.Poyser has written and produced songs for various legendary and award-winning artists including Erykah Badu, Mariah Carey, John Legend, Lauryn Hill, Common, Anthony Hamilton, D'Angelo,...
, who has worked with Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
.
Richard Nichols, the manager of The Roots and executive producer of Lay It Down
Lay It Down (Al Green album)
Lay It Down is a studio album by American recording artist Al Green, released May 27, 2008, on Blue Note Records. The album was produced by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson of the The Roots and James Poyser. Four tracks feature guest artists, two with Anthony Hamilton, and one each with John Legend and...
by Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
, took a liking to Costa's song "The Gift." He has since produced "The Gift" and "Ready to Make It Work." The track features musicians James Poyser, Questlove, Steve Jordan
Steve Jordan (musician)
Steve Jordan is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, musical director and Grammy Award-winning artist, who has made a name for himself as a producer from the Bronx in New York City. A graduate of the Fiorello H...
and Kindred the Family Soul
Kindred the Family Soul
Kindred the Family Soul, also referred to as Kindred, are an American R&B, soul, and neo soul duo consisting of the married couple of Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon...
. Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Antibalas is a Brooklyn-based afrobeat band that is modeled after Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive Orchestra...
remixed "Ready to Make it Work."
Track 14 Sessions
In January of 2011, Costa began hosting "Track 14 Sessions" at Legacy Recording Studio in Times SquareTimes Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
. The series opened up Costa's recording sessions to the public, and featured guest performances by Nikki Jean
Nikki Jean
Nikki Jean is a singer-songwriter, musician, and occasional actress from the United States. She was a part of the band Nouveau Riche, an indie/hip-hop band based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. She is also featured on Lupe Fiasco's second album, The Cool, as a lyricist and vocalist...
and Khari Mateen. According to Costa, the sessions are "meant to unveil what goes on in the recording studio ... It's an intimate live performance where people can hear raw vocals and instrumentation with amplification." "Track 14" refers to the train Costa takes to travel between New York City and Philadelphia, as she regularly rehearses and records in both cities. Costa also announced that she will release a live album based on the sessions.
"Void of a Legend"
In the summer of 2011 Costa met Kevin "K.O." Olusola through LCD SoundsystemLCD Soundsystem
LCD Soundsystem was a prominent American dance-punk band from New York City. It was fronted by American singer-songwriter and producer James Murphy, co-founder of record label DFA Records...
frontman James Murphy, who was a mutual friend at Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
's studio in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Olusola is a known as beat-boxing cellist. He and Costa collaborated on recording "Void of a Legend," which Costa wrote. It was released as a single on August 25, 2011, and debuted at No. 51 on the U.S. iTunes Classical Music Chart
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
. A music video was released and featured on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
website.
Style
Costa has been influenced by musicians such as Tracy ChapmanTracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,...
and soul singer
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Marie Sullivan is an American recording artist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is also the protégé of rapper Missy Elliott. Her debut single "Need U Bad" reached number one on Billboards Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, while her second single, "Bust Your Windows" peaked at number four...
. Many of her lyrical themes center around family, personal experiences, and literature, and has stated "For me, writing a song is like bottling an emotion in its most potent form."
According to the Columbia Spectator, Costa more closely identifies with gospel singers using their intuition, as compared to classically trained musicians. "I’m afraid that by taking a music theory class, I’m not going to be as creative,” she said. “Not knowing what’s right or wrong or what’s typical composition-wise makes my music more free in the sense that I’m not trying to assume an ABA-structure or something like that.”
Organice
In September 2011 Costa became a contributor to the website "Organice Your Life." The website is headed by top model Lonneke EngelLonneke Engel
Lonneke Engel is a Dutch fashion model. Discovered by Bruce Weber, some of her first clients included Abercrombie & Fitch, Ralph Lauren, and Chanel...
, and has an online magazine focused on health, wellness, and nutrition. Since joining, she has interviewed Regina Spektor
Regina Spektor
Regina Ilyinichna Spektor is a Russian American singer-songwriter and pianist. Her music is associated with the anti-folk scene centered in New York City's East Village.-Early life:...
's vocal coach Wendy Parr and Hines Ward
Hines Ward
Hines E. Ward, Jr. is an American football player who currently plays the wide receiver position for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, where he is the longest-tenured current player on the team. He was voted MVP of Super Bowl XL. He played college football at the University of Georgia...
, the wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who won Dancing With The Stars
Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 12)
Dancing with the Stars returned for its twelfth season on March 21, 2011. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Len Goodman returned to the show as judges, while Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke returned as hosts....
.
Discography
Albums- BreakthruBreakthru (Costa album)Breakthru is the self-released debut album by American singer-songwriter Antoniette Costa. It was released on her label L.I.P. Label 14 on March 1, 2005.-History:...
(2005)
Singles
- "Ready to Make it Work" (2008)
- "Sinking Deeper" (2010)
- "Played Me" (2010)
- "You Better Forget" (2010)
- "We Were Meant To Be" (2010)
- "Void of a Legend" (2011)
External links
- Antoniette Costa on Organice
- Antoniette Costa on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Antoniette Costa on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....