Vanessa Daou

Fusing jazz, pop, dance grooves, and sexually explicit lyrics, Vanessa Daou may be one of the most daring new artists of the 20th century. Her first two solo singles -- "Give Myself to You" and "Are You Satisfied?" -- reached the Top Ten on the dance charts compiled by Billboard. Initially released on her own label, Lotus Records, Daou's debut solo album, Zipless, which featured groove-induced interpretations of Erica Jong's poetry, was reissued by MCA/Universal in the summer of 1995. A native of Saint Thomas, Daou moved to Massachusetts in 1984 to attend boarding school. She continued to study visual art and art history at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY and Barnard College in New York City. Together with her musical partner and husband, Peter Daou, on piano, the pair recorded as Vandal and attempted to break into New York's underground dance music scene. Signed by Columbia/Sony, Daou released their debut duo album, Head Music, in 1992. The album was extremely successful with the first single, "Surrender Yourself," reaching the top of Billboard's club chart. When the label offered to pick up an option for a second album, the duo elected to sign with the new Tribal label. After releasing two chart-topping singles, Daou was signed as a solo act by Elektra chairman Bob Krasnow for his fledgling company, Krasnow Entertainment. A top-notch remix keyboardist, Peter Daou has become a much sought-after session player, working with such artists as Janet Jackson, Diana Ross, Björk, Garbage, Grace Jones, and Miles Davis.
— Craig Harris , All Music Guide