There’s two things that may be missing in the world today, but bring them together and you get some Smart Luve.
Vancouver R&B artists Craig Smart and Rosette Luve are winding their way through Canada this month, and stop by Monashee’s Bar and Grill in Vernon Friday.
Known for both hip hop and R&B hits, such as 123 and One Last Night (produced by Longo and Wainwright), which have received international play, Smart has been topping the charts for more than a decade with his thoughtful lyrics and unmistakable hooks.
Based in Vancouver, he started his music career as a rapper and eventually ended up as a singer touring North America and Europe.
As a member of Vancouver R&B act D-Cru, Smart, with the band, received a Juno nomination for the song I Will be Waiting in 2000, which hit the top 10 in Canada. Smart later contributed back-up vocals on two tracks for Master P’s album, Game Face.
Smart has also produced a number of hit songs under his alter ego Yardi Don.
One of them, One Love, is on more than 100 compilations worldwide. Roger Sanchez played it as the hit release of the week on his nationally syndicated radio show, Release Yourself with Roger Sanchez.
Smart’s other accolades include songs for Hipjoint Records, What Went On and Baby its I, and singing on Faded for Soul Decision.
He has found a lot of his fame across the Atlantic.
He’s co-written and sang on numerous European chart toppers such as Summer Jam, which went gold in France and Germany, and double platinum in Belgium and Holland.
Another single, Candy on the Dance Floor, debuted at No. 1 on the Belgium dance charts, went as high as No. 4 on the Dutch charts, and was answered with being No. 4 on the dance charts in France and No. 2 on the U.K. dance charts.
He has been co-writing and singing songs such as Freedom with Tristan Gardner of France on Scorpio Records and Hanging On with the House Keepers on Network Records out of Italy.
His latest single, Invincible, was released a year ago.
Joining Smart is Canadian pop, R&B, house singer, songwriter, actor and dancer Rosette Luve.
“I am a huge believer in being positive with life and loving every moment of it, and if I can make people feel great with my music, I have done my job,” says Luve who is best known by her first name.
Rosette first found success when she was selected from more than 100,000 contestants on the Canadian hit show, PopStars: The One. Even though she didn’t win the competition, her music career soared to new heights. She soon released four singles (Delirious, One Wish, Crushed and UhOh); two of which topped the charts at number one nationally.
Crushed was the No. 1 CanCon single for the Top 40 charts for four weeks, while UhOh reached the Top 10 on the Canadian Radio Charts. Both videos for the songs saw heavy rotation on MuchMusic, Much More Music, and Punch Much.
Rosette was also nominated for a Juno in 2008 and won a Canadian Music Award for Best New Pop Artist of the Year in 2007.
She has shared the stage with some of the biggest stars to date such as Rihanna, Akon and many others, all over Canada, and has been working hard to bring her fans new music.
Rosette has recently been collaborating with some of the music industry’s most affluent individuals such as Timbaland and DJ/producer Ian Carey, who are featured on her song Amnesia.
Her newest single and video, Ditzy Girl, caused a lot of controversy, but Rosette says that she is one to never shy away from speaking her mind. Her new song, Fire, just got picked up by Universal Canada and has been playing all across Canada and now on the international level.
Smart and Rosette bring their Canada Hits Tour to Monashee’s Bar and Grill Friday for a 19-plus show. Tickets are $10, available at Monashee’s. Doors open to all ticket holders at 10 p.m.
