Rama Duke

Imagine the sonic signature of an artist whose early influences include Ella Fitzgerald, The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's," Veruca Salt, Tool, '90s grunge and Hall & Oates. Of course, the customary next statement is supposed to neatly reveal that Rama Duke—the namesake of this bio—is that very vocalist.

But it's not that easy. You are about to meet a musical tour de force all to herself. Rama is a singer and songwriter with the ability to wring every iota of emotion from a lyric… and in the next verse, roar with a delicious ferocity that makes one's bones tremble. Ask Rama to define her style: "Loud, passionate and unapologetic," she says. "I might call it 'grunge soul'."

As one of the initial signings to Los Angeles-based multi-media/music company 1520 Entertainment, founder and CEO Jared Lee Gosselin says, "The first time I worked with Rama some years ago, I was struck by her raw, limitless passion. She puts so much of herself into every note, word and phrase; with incredible respect—and awareness of—the context of the music and the arrangement. She also understands how to universally appeal to the audience."

In fact, 1520's launch single, an inspired re-rub of Red Hot Chili Peppers' 1992 smash "Under the Bridge," is an ideal platform for Rama's guts and gusto. In her commanding duet with lyricist Chino XL—who was once mentored by Rick Rubin—the song serves up its message of strife and search for redemption, recharged for a new generation.

Chino, who contributes an originally written flow that supplant the song's original verses, offers: "For me, 'Bridge' is about overcoming a less than perfect childhood, and the struggles of youth. I relate to its message about survival, of never bowing down as you work to overcome whatever the darkness brings."

Add Rama's interpretation of the Peppers' original chorus, loaded with 8-cylinder fervor: "I don't ever want to feel, like I did that day/Take me to the place I love, take me all the way." She says, "As a child who moved all over the place, I was always wearing headphones and listening to music that came out raw where the singer wasn't afraid to say what they felt. I understand the struggle and I think that is part of everything I sing."

That said, early on, Rama's mom surrounded her with love—and music. The pair vacuumed and did laundry together on weekends, singing along to Madonna, Michael Jackson and Hall & Oates, as she also inhaled MTV videos. She was also drawn to the disparate charms of Kurt Cobain, Jimmy Buffett, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Green Day.

All of this led to an unbridled and prodigious ability to spontaneously create melodies, which Rama would record on her boom box cassette recorder, proudly pushing "play" for her parents and friends. "I always knew I had a voice, but it wasn't a really serious interest," she says. That was about to change. After relocating to Los Angeles as a teen, family nudged Rama to audition for the Los Angeles School of the Performing Arts and with production company Popcorn. Both accepted. On the same day.

That soon led to Rama's signing with Hollywood Records, which itself was on fire with Hillary Duff, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Breaking Benjamin and Plain White T's. "I worked with a lot of producers, from Jazzy Jeff to Scott Storch to Dallas Austin," Rama says. "The plan went from pop to R&B to electronic, even jazz." While she developed writing chops and grew to know working in the recording studio, ultimately "the label had no idea what to do with a black woman who wanted to sing rock."

Rama then aligned with Scott Chesak, songwriter, producer and keyboardist with The All-American Rejects. She says, "We wrote a killer album. Everything I'd been told I couldn't do we did. This time, being commercial was the last thing on my mind. It was about being honest and unapologetic."

As Rama's voice—and electrifying persona—continued to gain notice in the L.A. scene, Dallas Austin again came calling. The multi-platinum producer and founder of Rowdy Records was staging a musical/performance art tour and remembered a track Rama recorded with him years earlier.

"He wanted to use our unreleased track, 'Done,' for the Dallas Austin Experience tour, with me singing onstage," Rama says. As the show grew in scope, she was designated a full-time member of the onstage troupe. The show traveled to more than two-dozen cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta. Now signed to Austin's Rowdy Records, Rama worked alongside George Clinton, Bobby Brown and Macy Gray —onstage and in the studio—still working toward that moment when the spotlight would focus on her.

The time is now. Signed to 1520, and working directly with Grammy-winning Jared Lee Gosselin, Rama Duke is at last able to express all, front and center. He says, "We've known each other for so long. I'm the lucky one here." She adds, "For so long I was asked to fit a certain mold or sing songs formulated for radio. Jared gets me."

As "Under the Bridge" mounts its campaign via radio and Spotify, social media, YouTube/Vimeo and the like, Rama is working with 1520 toward her long-lived missive. "It's true, nothing comes close to rock for me, but I see the beauty in all music and, hey I'm good at it, so why not express myself wherever it feels real," Rama says.

That includes contributing vocals to a number of targeted EDM tracks aimed to propel the genre beyond its increasingly wearying radio-ready generic vocal signature. Rama is also working on a full-length project with the band A Bad Day for Sorry. But foremost is her development with Gosselin.

"It has taken a few turns to get here, but this is the right time and place. I know I'm heading down the right road," Rama says. "What matters most is reaching people and sharing my message of strength and perseverance."