India Arie Launching New Label

Billboard reports that India Arie is launching a new label, SoulBird Music, in partnership with Universal Republic Records.

Apparently Arie already has a budding new act ready for release on her new label, SoulBird Music. Anthony David, a longtime friend of Arie, will make his major-label debut when his album Acey Deucey drops on June 17.

In a statement released by Arie, the singer said, "In this era, soul is not a sound or a color, it's an intention. That's the kind of music I want SoulBird to represent: music with intelligence and heart, music that moves people in their souls and their bodies. Music with wings."

Although SoulBird artist Anthony David has had prior success from his first two independent albums, - Three Chords and the Truth and Red Clay Chronicles - David still plans to incorporate much of his past content on Acey Deucey.

David, also a former backup singer for India Arie, describes his sound as "Bill Withers meets Mos Def."