Michael Franti
'The Sound of Sunshine' is the upcoming seventh studio album by Michael Franti and Spearhead due to be released on May 16th.
USA Today has hailed it as full of "Festival-friendly reggae pop grooves and radiant hope-filled songs." and it is arguably the most cohesive, romantic and life-affirming album that the duo have ever made.
After their 2008 album 'All Rebel Rockers' Franti was hospitalized for a ruptured appendix which gave the artists plenty of time to pen the tracks.
"Music is sunshine," Franti says." It gives us new energy and a stronger sense of purpose. You can't hold it in your hands, smell it, taste it or even see it, yet somehow just coming together and feeling these little vibrations that tickle our eardrums can somehow lift us all up out of our most difficult moments in life to unimaginable heights."
The album, recorded in Jamaica by producers Sly and Robbie, has a tour which is due to start later this year which promises to be a wonderful event.
Franti has been a humanitarian for yers and even travels the world barefoot to support hundreds of millions of people who can not afford shoes.
Brought up in San Francisco, Franti currently lives in Bali and opened a Soulshine Yoga retreat centre there which dedicates itself to bringing people together to practice Yoga, meditation, dance and art.
"To play for people and share your songs with them is to make a real connection. That's why we play outside our shows for those who can't afford to come inside."
The Sound of Sunshine single and album are both due for release on May 16th by EMI records.