Soulsa!


A new artist has come to my attention - one whose sound reminds me that the season of rebirth will soon be upon us - and not a second too soon.

Faithful readers know that I'm always attracted to fresh sounds, i.e. any music that gives me a small break from the radio playlists - and I've found it in Ria . This self-proclaimed "Queen of Soulsa" blends latin and soul to produce a funky mix of dance tracks and ballads.

Straight from the home of R&B music, Detroit, Ria's beats and voice are as good as any I've heard over the radiowaves - that's not meant to downplay her talents, only reinforce the fact that succeeding in the music game is 5 parts luck, 3 parts packaging and 2 parts talent. Need I point to groups like 112 to prove that?

Not yet signed by a major label, Ria is paying her dues trying to be heard above the crowd. Of the four tracks I was privvy to hear, I was most attracted to "Dance With Me" and "Should I Tell You."

"Should I Tell You" is a seductive jam with Ria's melodic vocals flowing over a mild beat - a horn segment adds just a dash of spanish flair. Because the background vocals have a fast tempo flow, a style first brought to fame by Bone Thugs In Harmony, the track is caught in that strange limbo where its not a traditional slow song but isn't a dance jam either.

"Dance with Me" is a great mix of the "soulsa" style. It really makes me wish I knew how to salsa. The songs foundation are a few simple keyboard strokes - but they're the right ones to make you want to get up and cut a rug, complete with a dress that flairs as you spin. I think she can do a lot with this track live - it would sound great with a full band of horns, bass and piano.

"Be Good" showcases Ria's voice a little more than some of the other tracks. She has a strong voice and seems to take it through more paces on this track.

I like Ria's style. She's embracing a variety of genres and trying to make it work for her voice rather than forcing herself into a canned sound. A lot of artists - without latin roots - are taking a stab at the soulsa style, validating how diverse soul music is. D'Angelo's "Spanish Joint" is immersed in the sound - and its hot!

The copyright of the article Soulsa! in R&B/Soul Music is owned by Paula Chase-Hyman. Permission to republish Soulsa! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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