I'm digging soulful songbird Rhian (ree-ann) Benson. A couple of online diarists - I think it was Antonio G and Naya'hri - have already written about this lovely singer on their weblogs. But after watching Rhian's wonderful new video for "Say How I Feel" - I'm hooked. Yeah, she is sexy as hell, but I'm also feeling her voice. The clip is hot, too. According to Billboard magazine, Rhian's single "Say How I Feel" is the hottest song at several Adult R&B radio stations across the nation.

And folks . . . she's the real Ashanti.

According to her bio:

Rhian was born into the renowned Ashanti tribe in Ghana, West Africa and grew up surrounded by music and musicians. Her mother - from Wales in Britain - is a singer, and her father - an Ashanti dignitary from Ghana - is also a guitarist. Rhian's grandfather led an acclaimed big band in the '50s and '60s; her eldest uncle was a popular highlife singer, and her youngest uncle a record producer.

Read Rhian's bio HERE.

Rhian's upcoming CD Gold Coast is slated to hit stores in September. "The album name refers both to my homeland of Ghana, West Africa (which was historically called the Gold Coast) as well as my new home in California, with its golden beaches and coastline," says Rhian.

Check out Rhian Benson's journal HERE.

Another songbird that I'm checking for is Myshel and she is hot! She recently beat out 2,000 hopefuls to win the chance to sing at the Atlantis Music Conference 2003 last week in Atlanta, and she blew away the crowd with her performance.

Music journalist A. Tacuma Roeback describes Myshel as:

"A neo-soul singer who's reviving the traditional soul aesthetic that was blazed by singers such as Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone and Marvin Gaye, who brought substance to the R&B genre."

Myshel (pronounced Mee-shell) is a Frankfort, Kentucky native who began her singing aspirations while crooning in the church choir. When her father went on trips to Trinidad and El Salvador to perform missionary work, she would go with him. She even visited western Africa and her mother's native country, Ghana. A graduate of Tennessee State University, Myshel is now based in Nashville and is recording songs for her forthcoming debut album. Myshel hopes to land a record deal in the process, as well. Yes folks, this talented chantuese is unsigned.