Mutlu

Mutlu is an acoustic guitar-playing singer/songwriter from Philadelphia who draws from a range of styles, primarily soul music but also hip-hop and jazz, and who built up his initial following with years of live performances and a series of EP releases. Born Mutlu Onaral on May 16, 1979, in Philadelphia, PA, he is a first-generation American of Turkish descent and cites influences including Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and Curtis Mayfield. His performance career began on the Philadelphia club scene as well as in cafés and at open-mic nights. He eventually recorded and independently released a self-titled six-track EP in 2003. After another few years of live performances, including a tour in support of Amos Lee, he was offered the opportunity to record an EP on Manhattan Records, released in 2005. Self-titled like its predecessor, the EP features seven songs and was produced by his former tourmate, Amos Lee. Mutlu then signed a recording contract with Blue Note Records, which in 2006 reissued his Manhattan EP from a year prior and released a new EP, Connect Set, featuring acoustic versions of a few of the same songs plus two new ones. ~ Jason Birchmeier