Lately, I’ve been listening to some amazingly talented artists from abroad. And I dare ask the question, “Who’s got more soul? Is it our sisters here in the states or our sisters across the pond?” Now, I know what you may be thinking… is she crazy or what?! I mean let’s examine the thought for a moment. There was the British Invasion in the 60’s. British Soul artists have always been heavily influenced by the American soul vanguards of the 60’s. Artists like Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, and let’s not forget the huge impact made from the Godfather of Soul James Brown, introduced the world to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. So, now we fast forward to the 1990’s and 2000’s. This again birthed artists influenced by contemporary R&B soul and the explosion of the New Jack Swing. Artists like, Mica Paris, Caron Wheeler, Amy Winehouse and Estelle, just to name a few.
“Who’s got more soul? Is it our sisters here in the states or our sisters across the pond?”
And yet again, I’ve discovered another rising star from abroad. These sisters are bringing it with a vengeance. They’re mixing styles ranging from soul, hip-hop and deep house influences. She goes by “NAO” pronounced NAYO. I was first introduced to this young lady listening to the online music site, Indie Shuffle. The song was entitled “Adore You”. I was completely floored when I heard this huge raspy voice flowing from my speakers. I was instantly hooked and needing more. Not only does her voice captivate your ears, but you also take immediate notice to the structure and vocal placement throughout the song. This led me to also take notice that she was not only a great vocalist but also a darn good songwriter. NAO has a brand new album that launched February of this year. You guys can check it out on ITunes or SoundCloud. I can’t actually tell you who she sounds like. I guess that’s a good thing. All I know is for all my true lovers of good music and those who aren’t afraid to experiment with different genres. Then you really should get to know this amazingly gifted artist. She will definitely blow your mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN-R4X7-LU0
Leslie A. Thomas is a music blogger, festival enthusiast, and traveler. Follow me on Twitter @LBoogie252005.
