This is Angela Luna’s third offering and she takes a bold step combining her unique rhythmic vocal style with some of the top fresh new talent from Johannesburg South Africa. Teaming up once again with producer Derek Nakamoto, this CD was tracked in Johannesburg with guitarist Lawrence Matshiza (SA Music Award Producer of the Year), bassist Lucas Senyatso, drummer Rob Watson and percussionist Tlale Makhene. These musicians have recorded and toured with the top artist from SA, most notably Hugh Masekela and are considered the cream of the crop of new talent emerging in SA. Also featured on the CD is renowned jazz Trombonist Ira Nepus along with Sal Cracchiolo (trumpet) and Charlie Owens (sax) make up the section that has appeared with artist such as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. There is a wonderful accapela presentation by singer Valerie Pinkston who has recorded and performed with the great Luther Vandross for many years as well as Chaka Khan and Patti Austin. The collection of songs are a hybrid organic blend of driving rock / R&B rhythms with the flavor and soul of South African township rhythms and groves. Along with the horns and string section, it perfectly frames Angela’s unique phrasing and interpretation of her lyrics rooted from her personal life stories and experiences. The street life of Los Angeles, reflections of gratitude and the many sides of love are all covered poetically with a voice that is best described as soulful and unique! Calling herself a "multi-ethnic American mutt who sings hipHOPE", and hailing from Hartford, CT; Angela continues to forge a path created by indi artists such as Ani Defranco, pursuing her music with honesty and passion. This CD collection doesn’t cut any corners and Nakamoto’s production under his new label Nakamoto Music Group (NMG) lives up to it’s creed of bringing in industry heavy weights that are the right people for the artist. The CD is mixed by Ryan Freeland (Jonatha Brooks, Aimee Mann) and mastered by a master himself, Jim Chapdelaine. In the words of Dan Barry of The Hartford Advocate, Hope Nation is "a**-shaking, loaded with instrumentation that could be at home on Paul Simon's Graceland album, delivered with Luna's trademark sweet melodic rap; it has a thematic similarity to much of M.I.A's music: it makes political rebellion sound like the raddest celebration on planet earth!"