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Taja’s latest song, A Fine Place, reached a quarter of a million “listens” in its first week!
Author and recording artist, Taja Sevelle has contributed a moving piece about a lunch with the iconic music artist, Prince, in Erica Heller’s One Last Lunch.
“One Last Lunch is a powerful, surprise-filled read that is as charming and funny as it is moving.” —Helen Mirren
Taja Sevelle’s lunch with Prince takes place in the Beverly Hills Hotel in California, and gives the reader a window into a heartwarming relationship between the two close friends.
Charming and uplifting, the fabled lunch is peppered with Taja’s selections of real-life shared moments with Prince, revealing humor, social awareness, and of course, menu proclivities.
One Last Lunch: A Final Meal with Those Who Meant So Much to Us (Abrams Press; May 12, 2020; U.S $25.00; Hardcover.) Available also on Amazon:
Who wouldn’t love the opportunity to sit down, break bread, and just talk? Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to ask those unasked questions, or share those unvoiced feelings? In One Last Lunch, Heller, an acclaimed memoirist herself, has asked friends and family of authors, artists, musicians, comedians, actors, and others, to recount one such fantastic repast. Kirk Douglas asks his father what he thought of him becoming an actor. Taja Sevelle asks Prince piercing questions. Sara Moulton dines with her friend Julia Child. Richard Lewis has lunch with Jonathan Winters. These richly imagined stories are endlessly revealing, about the subject, the writer, the passage of time, regret, gratitude, and the power of enduring love.
Conversations in the book include:
Daniel Bellow (son) and Saul Bellow
Carinthia West (friend, collaborator) and David Bowie
Lee Clow (collaborator, friend) and Steve Jobs
Elizabeth Mailer (daughter) and Norman Mailer
Taja Sevelle (protégé, close friend) and Prince
Rain Pryor (daughter) and Richard Pryor
Cameron West (acquaintance) and Robin Williams
Richard Lewis (close comedy pal) and Jonathan Winters
Erica Heller (daughter) and Joseph Heller (Author of Catch 22.)
About the Author
Erica Heller is the author of the memoir Yossarian Slept Here; a novel, Splinters; and 300 Ways to Say No to a Man, a humor book illustrated by Seymour Chwast. She has contributed to the New York Observer, Huffington Post, and other publications.
“Taja’s experience and insights provide us with an important approach to bringing our world into balance.”
– Nile Rodgers
“Taja shares her insight, experiences and research in a clear and concise way, leading the reader to the realization that a world of compassion and empathy is not only possible but probable and easily within our reach. At a time in history when these goals are essential, this book is a refreshing must read!”
– Shawn and Larry King
Music
A Fine Place reached a quarter of a million “listens” in its first week!
Taja’s latest release, A Fine Place, is touching hearts around the world.
Little Diva reached Top 30 on the Billboard Dance Club Charts in the U.S!
Belber, the iconic heritage handbag and luggage company, joined up with Taja Sevelle for the U.S. launch of Taja’s new song, Little Diva. In April, 2017.
Belber designed an exclusive, Limited Edition, Little Diva Tribeca Tote, especially for the launch of Taja Sevelle’s, Little Diva. This handmade, leather tote is numbered on the inside, with an exceptional artist’s rendering of Taja, in natural grained leather. Certificate of authenticity included, benefits two charities, only 200 units available worldwide! Purchase here.
Currently recording under her independent label, Matrix Music, Taja’s new music is available on Amazon, iTunes and other online outlets.
The first song Taja wrote, Love is Contagious, became a charted Billboardhit in America and Europe, reaching Top7 in England. Taja has written songs with renowned writers around the world including, Burt Bacharach, Thom Bell, Prince and Nile Rodgers.She has singing and songwriting credits on over 3.5 million CDs sold.Subsequent to her deal with Prince, after a bidding war with 9 major record labels, Taja signed a deal with Sony 550, and released her third CD, Toys of Vanity.
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Books
Taja Sevelle has written three books—a non-fiction titled From The Root, A Memoir and A Philosophy for Balance in Our World, and two unpublished novels, Rain on a River and 49 Days. She has co-written a script for 49 Days and is currently working on her new novel, The Joke.
From The Root, A Memoir and A Philosophy for Balance in Our World, By Taja Sevelle.
“Taja’s experience and insights provide us with an important approach to bringing our world into balance.”
– Nile Rodgers, Music Producer, Author.
“Taja shares her insight, experiences and research in a clear and concise way, leading the reader to the realization that a world of compassion and empathy is not only possible but probable and easily within our reach. At a time in history when these goals are essential, this book is a refreshing must read!”
-Shawn King, Actress/Singer and Larry King, TV/Radio Host formerly with CNN.
“Taja Sevelle weaves a tapestry of her amazing life with a powerful plan for recovery and balance. The presence of practical and actionable steps to better our health, our communities and the planet make this required reading to reclaim the harmony in which we deserve to live and raise families.”
-Joel Kahn, M.D. Clinical Professor of Medicine (Cardiology), Author of “The Whole Heart Solution.
“Taja Sevelle’s vision of a world united by global farming provides a prime example of how small steps on a local level can translate to big gains in our global environment.”
– Professor David Lea, Department of Earth Science, University of California.
Recording Artist, Taja Sevelle, who signed her first record deal with the legendary artist, Prince, outlines a courageous plan for bringing the world into balance, and shares the reasons she put her music career on the “back burner” to start the nonprofit organization Urban Farming®. Her blueprint for balance includes recapturing trillions of dollars of wasted capital, and reallocating it into areas that will better serve both our economically challenged communities, as well as our economically vibrant communities. With chronicles of risk-taking vision, extensive research, and rare personal experiences, Taja offers a formula for integrity in business, personal, social, and political relationships, as well as world affairs. She shares how fundamental “root” principles are essential for the restoration and balance of mental, physical, and spiritual health within our global family.
While recording her third CD for Sony Records in Detroit, Taja saw widespread poverty and vast stretches of unused land—a memory she would not forget. With three community gardens and a global vision to “Create an Abundance of Food for All in Our Generation,” Taja started Urban Farming, which went on to ignite a global gardening movement. Within six years, there were over 56,000 gardens within the Urban Farming Global Food Chain® Urban Farming has been featured in over 30,000 media stories including The Ellen Show, Good Morning America, The Montel Williams Show, the BBC, CNN, FOX, NPR, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.
From The Root vibrates with the inspiration, innovation, and perseverance of a brilliant and passionate artist who put her first love—music—on hold to address some tough global issues.
One Last Lunch
Author and recording artist, Taja Sevelle has contributed a moving piece about a lunch with the iconic music artist, Prince, in Erica Heller’s One Last Lunch.
“One Last Lunch is a powerful, surprise-filled read that is as charming and funny as it is moving.”
—Helen Mirren
Taja Sevelle’s lunch with Prince takes place in the Beverly Hills Hotel in California, and gives the reader a window into a heartwarming relationship between the two close friends.
Charming and uplifting, the fabled lunch is peppered with Taja’s selections of real-life shared moments with Prince, revealing humor, social awareness, and of course, menu proclivities.
One Last Lunch: A Final Meal with Those Who Meant So Much to Us (Abrams Press; May 12, 2020; U.S $25.00; Hardcover.) Available also on Amazon
Who wouldn’t love the opportunity to sit down, break bread, and just talk? Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to ask those unasked questions, or share those unvoiced feelings? In One Last Lunch, Heller, an acclaimed memoirist herself, has asked friends and family of authors, artists, musicians, comedians, actors, and others, to recount one such fantastic repast. Kirk Douglas asks his father what he thought of him becoming an actor. Taja Sevelle asks Prince piercing questions. Sara Moulton dines with her friend Julia Child. Richard Lewis has lunch with Jonathan Winters. These richly imagined stories are endlessly revealing, about the subject, the writer, the passage of time, regret, gratitude, and the power of enduring love.
Conversations in the book include:
· Daniel Bellow (son) and Saul Bellow
· Carinthia West (friend, collaborator) and David Bowie
· Lee Clow (collaborator, friend) and Steve Jobs
· Elizabeth Mailer (daughter) and Norman Mailer
· Taja Sevelle (protégé, close friend) and Prince
· Rain Pryor (daughter) and Richard Pryor
· Cameron West (acquaintance) and Robin Williams
· Richard Lewis (close comedy pal) and Jonathan Winters
· Erica Heller (daughter) and Joseph Heller (Author of Catch 22.)
About the Author
Erica Heller is the author of the memoir Yossarian Slept Here; a novel, Splinters; and 300 Ways to Say No to a Man, a humor book illustrated by Seymour Chwast. She has contributed to the New York Observer, Huffington Post, and other publications.
Rain on a River
Set in present day, this mystery and romance centers around the lives of Lastlia Priscilla States and Alden Bain Thearou. They realize a foe is in their midst, and as they begin to unravel the mystery of their past lives, they are gripped with finding out who their enemy is in the present. It soon becomes a matter of life and death. Lastlia and Alden are torn apart and highly misunderstood as the mystery takes unexpected twists of fate.
Sunday, December 1st, 8:30am ET- Taja will be interviewed on The Steve Hood Show, Detroit Wants 2 Know, which airs on WKBD TV 50 at 8:30 AM in the Detroit Media Market and on HULU.
Tuesday, November 26th, 10:30am EST- Taja will be interviewed live by Cyrus Webb at Conversations Radio.
Thursday, November 7th, 2019- Taja will be interviewed by Q Bear at KMOJ Radio 3-4pm. She will be promoting her new book, new music, and the good old times at KMOJ!
September 22nd, 2019- Taja will be interviewed by Max Tucci, of La Talk Radio’s “Max & Friends”. Part 2 will air 8pm PT (11pm ET), Sunday September 22nd. Listen Live at http://www.latalkradio.com (channel one!) Thanks to @maxtucci @latalkradio #MAXandFriends
September 19th, 2019- Taja will be interviewed by Chris Cuomo at 1pm.
September 15th, 2019- Taja will be interviewed by Max Tucci, of La Talk Radio’s “Max & Friends”. Part 1 will air 8pm PT (11pm ET), Sunday September 15th. Listen Live at http://www.latalkradio.com (channel one!) Thanks to @maxtucci @latalkradio #MAXandFriends
September 14, 2019- Taja will attend the Opening Reception of “A Fine Line”, an art exhibit at the White Room Gallery in Bridgehampton, NY. The exhibit will feature, among others, South Korean artist CHO Yea Jae, who will also be attending the Opening Reception, 6-8pm.
August 22, 2019- The Purple Current will interview Taja Sevelle at 12:00 noon (CST), on Minnesota Public Radio. Catch the interview here!
July 23, 2019- Next Level Leaderwill interview Taja Sevelle on Tuesday, July 23 at 2:15pm (CST).
June 8, 2019– Book Launch: VIP Event 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM: The official international book launch of Taja Sevelle’s new book, From The Root, A Memoir and A Philosophy for Balance in Our World, At the PRN (Prince) Alumni Foundation Global Gala, mix and mingle with Prince Alumni– Taja will speak and sign books. Deluxx Fluxx Club, 1274 Library Street, Detroit, Michigan. Catch Taja’s Speech here!
9:00 PM: Dance and celebrate Prince’s music with special guest DJ’s, Prince Alumni and surprise guests!
May 4, 2019– Urban Farming Pre-Mother’s Day Free Plant Giveaway, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM, Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Rd, Detroit, MI 48235
May 3, 2019– LiveInterview, Fox 2 News, Detroit, Michigan
Speaking
Taja Sevelle speaks all over the world and has been a keynote speaker in more than 85 public engagements, including: the Yale Sustainable Agriculture Panel; The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Songwriters Panel in New York; the National Black Caucus Panel on Food Deserts in Washington, D.C. and The Farm Credit Council Convention in Washington, D.C. She has received several notable awards for her philanthropic work.
Please refer to the Schedule for current speaking engagements.
