I love this woman. It’s ok for me to post that because she knows I do (I think…well, she does now! lol)! Shouts to Ivana for real though for not only being a pioneer/living legend in this whole Toronto music movement but for dropping her latest album Santilli (available now)! Here’s the official press release as well as track listing for the album. More under the cut. And check for Ivana live this Friday at HMV 333 and this Saturday at Yonge/Wellesley!

Toronto, ON – June 2010 – Toronto native Ivana Santilli, CP Records’ first lady of R&B and Pop, is excited to announce the release of her new record, Santilli, out June 29^th.  Aptly taking her last name, the album is a gorgeous musical cocktail that is much like Ivana’s heritage.  It blends history with present day, a true picture of what makes Ivana… Ivana.  Ivana will kick off the album with a performance on the Wellesley Stage at Pride on July 3^rd.  The second single, Letting Go, is at radio now.

Santilli is a collection of twelve songs that Ivana felt strongly belonged together.  Six tracks and three remixes from her 2008 release, TO.NY, and three new songs.  “I felt like I wasn’t done with the songs that were on TO.NY, and I really believed that they belonged with the new songs I had written,” describes Ivana, “so I just went with what I felt good about, and that was a blend of the past and new.  I’m very proud of what this album represents to me.”

Ivana is recognized for her winning musical formula, combining soul bearing lyrics, strikingly beautiful music with high-energy live shows. For her, music is the heart and soul of her passion, and one to be taken seriously and honoured.  “Ivana is a special artist. Her sound is unmistakable and her magnetic presence can be felt as soon as she enters a room,” says Tony Sal, CEO of CP Records.

Ivana first burst onto the music scene while still a teenager as a member of the soul/funk group Bass is Base. The outfit released two successful and critically acclaimed albums, the latter with A&M Records, making waves both North and South of the border. Her debut solo release Brown proved equally as successful, showcasing her range as a tri-lingual (English, Italian and French) multi-instrumentalist (vocals, piano and trumpet). More recently, Ivana made noise on the charts again with the 70’s influenced Been Thru This for which she earned a Juno nomination for best R&B recording.

Her respect for the craft has impressed many and has landed her opportunities to collaborate with such heavyweight producers as Dwele, Omar, Dego (4 Hero), King Britt, James Poyser, Mitsu the Beats, Stuart Mathewman (Sade), Nasri & Adam Messinger. Ivana has taken her high energy live shows to Japan and Europe and has toured with the likes of The Roots, De La Soul, James Brown, and one her personal favourites, Jamiroquai.

Tracklisting for Santilli

1. Been Thru This
2. Your Girl Tonight
3. Hollywood (nothing over u) pt.2
4. Confused Lil Boy
5. Wish U Away
6. Whateva U Want
7. Letting Go
8. Leave It Alone
9. Still Anymore
10. Depend On U pt.2
11. Stay Here pt.2
12. Valentina