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Tamika Nicole - The Art Of Letting Go |
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Written by Super Administrator
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Monday, 01 June 2009 12:23 |
 Blues, a vital element in music history and one of soul music’s foundations, has been missing from today’s R&B and soul music for well over a decade now. While most artists have seemingly forgotten the genre, there are some that have successfully incorporated blues into their sound with very positive results. Enter Tamika Nicole.
Nicole, a Bay Area native and Oakland, Calif. product, brings a heavy blues influence to her sound that also is fused with funk, jazz, gospel, and rock stylings. Nicole’s sophomore CD, “The Art of Letting Go”, takes you back to the 80’s, when live music recording still ruled the day. Produced by Jamie Hawkins and Jimi Fischer, the album has a continuity that flows effortlessly with each song and conveys a growth in Nicole as both a singer and songwriter. “This album was about trying to share my experiences and observations of the world and the struggles which I was experiencing at that point in my life,” Nicole says. “I really wanted people to know that you can go through things in life and still remain hopeful.
”Nicole brings heartfelt positivity to her lyrics, and you can’t help but to be taken in by her words. The meshing of lyrics, vocals, music and feel gives the album a distinct 80’s sound, but one that’s still contemporary. One could easily mistake “The Art of Letting Go” for being made in 1985 rather than now. The lyrics Nicole sings are easily conveyed through her melodies, as she makes you feel what she’s feeling with each song. “I tend to write from a very honest place…I don’t know how to do it any other way,” Nicole says. “In my songs, I may be going through it but I never lose hope. Ultimately, I think God can bring a person through anything, and I guess those ideas reflect themselves in my songwriting.”
All of the songs are choice on the album, and each one takes you different places and gives you a positive message. But it’s the music that takes “The Art of Letting Go” from a mere neosoul album to a place where only real soul resides. The standout tracks include “Tryna Maintain”, “Get It Right”, and Can’t Walk Away”.
Rating: 7/10
Gabriel Rich for Soulinterviews.com
Buy the CD at CDBaby.com
Buy the CD at Amazon.com
Tamika Nicole's Official Site
Tamika Nicole on MySpace
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 24 February 2010 11:36 |
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