Sona wastes no time getting to the point on his sophomore release African Juju. His first track It’s all About Money is a smooth, catchy, radio friendly blend of beat, message and melody which he follows with track after track of anthems.

The End is Coming Soon delivers a driving, funk inspired rhythm with melodic backing synth tracks adding a thick layer of depth. The music, beats, lyrics and message blend like fluid throughout the entire album. Afrikan Juju is reminiscent of albums where vocals are treated as an additional instrument as opposed to an overriding, in-your-face assault.

Universal themes of greed, faith, honor, pride, jealousy and poverty are packaged in this diverse mix of melody and message. Sona ties it all together with his unique Afro inspired styling.

Track Picks:

It’s All About Money
The Voice
Take Ma Time
Go

The first single Its All About Money is available for download through iTunes and amazon.com

African Juju hits the shelf June 25 of 2009 and The Milwaukee Scene was delighted to get a chance to preview this Milwaukee native’s work.

Sona on the Web:
http://www.myspace.com/sonathevoice
http://intercessionsrecords.com/sona.html

La Dolce Vita translates as “the sweet life” and is nestled between Starship and Starbucks just south of Brady Street on Farwell Avenue. It quietly opened its doors in early March 2009, but the food and our experience was nothing to keep quiet about.

Inspired by Moroccan, Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine, the dishes we sampled were tasty and unique. The Briwat ($5.95) and Calamari a la Plancha ($7.50) were immediate favorites. The Briwat resembles an eggroll that is stuffed with either beef or chicken and is served with a wonderful sauce on the side. We enjoyed it so much we had to add another 1/2 order.

The Calamari a la Plancha is unlike most calamari you will find in Milwaukee which is typically breaded, deep fried and served with a side of marinara. At La Dolce Vita calamari is done very differently and the taste is amazing! Another order of this would have hit the spot as well. I’ll be sure to order both when I return.

These are must try appetizers that are sure to please.

For our entree, each of us ordered a Panini. My favorite of the three we tried was the chicken Shawarma panini ($7.50). The vegetarian La dolce panini ($6.50) was excellent as well. Chicken is chicken and beef is beef but the sauces and marinades that accompany the dishes at La Dolce Vita is what makes the food something special.

The atmosphere is colorful and entertaining. Flat panel TV’s line the wall while Mediterranean and Arabic music plays softly in the background. Seating is available for around 30 or 35 people.

More than 3/4 of the menu is under $10.00 putting everything within reach and also making it possible to try many different items.

We washed down our lunches with a fruit smoothie, although wine, beer and mixed drinks are also available.

We’re looking forward to getting back to this unique and tasty establishment!

La Dolce Vita is located at 1673 North Farwell Avenue.
http://www.mydolce-vita.com/
414.277.7750