PRESENTED BY SHANONE br br Native Nigerian Kalu James may not look the part of an accomplished folk rock singer songwriter, but the release of his third CD, "Live" (which received a 3 out of 5 stars from the Austin Chronicle) and a Day (June 11th) named after him in the "Live Music Capital of the World" Austin,tx proves otherwise. Born in Nigeria and raised in Republic of Benin , Kalu fluently speaks three languages - French, English and Igbo (native language ). Although he had sung in the choir since age 9, it wasn't until he moved far from home to New York State in 2001 to study computer technology that he discovered his gift for songwriting. br br Kalu says, "Music is a journal for me. It's a way for me to express and chronicle my days. Some people have diaries. I have music.Instead of defining myself by putting my music in a box called a 'genre,' I consider it 'feel' music. I want to connect to people by letting them know howI feel. Maybe they feel that way, too, and it creates a link between us." br br The son of a businessman and an educator, during his childhood his parents would play American artists such as Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye from his dad's record collection. American & Reggae music was also popular on African radio with tunes from artists such as Boys II Men, R. Kelly and Bob Marley as well as Nigerian favorites Fela Kuti & Osita Osadebe. br br But it was after Kalu moved to Rochester , New York that he discovered some of the artists that would have the greatest influence on him, Jeff Buckley and Tracy Chapman. Kalu had always been a writer and a poet. Now he was inspired to put his words into music. He bought his first guitar and began attending open mics. Music began taking over his life. br br Soon he was not only a regular, but also running one of the most popular open mics in Rochester , New York . After six years in Rochester , he was a well-known and popular entertainer. But when the opportunity came to move to Austin , Texas ,he didn't hesitate. br br Kalu remembers, "I had developed a name in Rochester and you could almost say I was well known in my niche. Friends would ask why are you moving to Austin where there are so many other musicians? But I wanted to go tough it out with the big boys. I couldn't just wait for people to discover me. I had to take the music to the people." br br Even so, Kalu worried if Austin would accept him. His insecurities about the move are reflected in the song he wrote as he made his way south," Austin Bound ." br br Kalu found Austin to be a community open to people. In just a few short months, Kalu established himself at the longest running open mics in Austin, Ruta Maya International Headquarters, and the man one Ruta Maya regular dubbed "the smiling man from New York" created a working relationship with the Ruta Maya open mic house band. br br Kalu says, " Austin reminds me of my home in Nigeria . People are not walking around like islands. People smile at you. There is something about Austin that is very inspiring." br br Kalu isn't just a singer, he is a storyteller in the old tradition. The title track of his second album "Dim The Lights" paints the story of a musician on stage with all lights and glamour and people, but who finds when he leaves the stage that he is still just himself. br Kalu explains, "There was a point in time where most people I knew by association got fake. ' Dim the Lights ' is about me in a sense,but not just about me. People expect artists to be this stage person that no one can be all the time. Musicians may seem like huge extroverts, but they are lonelier than most people imagine." br br I am a Person, not a personality br So don't come around if you're looking for him br Won't you dim the lights, else I'll be gone br His ever Growing fanbase has gotten him into well-known Austin venues Antones, Saxon Pub, Stubb's, Momo's, Belmont & One 2 One bar. He recently represented Texas at the Annual Expo in Canada. br br br Kalu's Musical journey spans from New York to Los Angeles and currently just came back from a 29 city tour with friend and fellow Singer-Songwriter, Josh Halverson br br br His Albums "The Way I Feel", "Dim The Lights" & "Live" are available at Waterloo Records(Austin, tx) as well as internet stores like itunes, Cdbaby etc br br For song samples and press kit visit www.reverbnation.comkalujames br www.kalujames.