Daphne Willis’ debut album What To Say will be released by Vanguard Records on February 9th. Daphne is a twenty-two year old singer-songwriter from Chicago. Her soulful voice calls to mind Corinne Bailey Rae, but her blend of organic acoustics and gritty guitar riffs is something else entirely.
“Everybody Else” opens with a funky mix of soul and rock reminiscent of Nikka Costa or Joss Stone. The ballad “Bluff” eases back into a softer pop sound, and songs like “Far Away” and “Love and Hate” fall into a mellow pop-folk vibe.
“All I Know” and the hyperspeed “Not Always Easy” bloom into a full-fledged pop radio tempo tempered with bursts of retro brass.
The upbeat delicacy of “Still Tryin’” in particular calls to mind Corinne Bailey Rae or the gentler side of Morcheeba, and there are hints of Feist in the closer “Jim Thonton.”
There’s room for improvement – I’d like to hear Daphne incorporate a rougher blues style into her vocals and arrangements … or at least drop some of the pop polish in the production. But overall, it’s a fun ride and there’s plenty of potential in this talented young star.
Daphne Willis – What To Say (mp3 expired) *
*mp3 provided by & posted w/ permission of Vanguard Records
The album is not yet available for purchase, but you can buy it at the links below on February 9th…
One Response to “Daphne Willis: What To Say”
This is really nice. Talented girl, huh?