After last year’s release of Denitia Odigie’s “Brick By Brick” EP, her fans were probably expecting something a little different from her recent full-length debut, “Vitality.” There is a major departure from Odigie’s previous soul-infused folk-pop sound, confidently heading in the direction of soul-pop and RnB.
Basically everything that Denitia writes or records is “soulful” in some respect, but damn… “Vitality” has got soul. We’re talking Erykah Badu-meets-Chaka Khan, then throw in the most tasteful elevator music, with a little bit of Shelby Lynn—(if the girl had some class)—and that’s what Denitia has dished out. From start to finish, this record is in a constant state of grooving; relaxed or raunchy; sweet or sultry. It’s all there. At the same time, “Vitality” manages to be what is probably the most laid-back set of recordings I’ve heard all year. Few artists can actually accomplish creating a record that not only grooves, but relaxes, from start to finish.
While old Odigie seemed to favor the “acoustic route,” “Vitality” does the opposite with a lushness of layered padding and a fusion of jazz/RnB instrumentation; (think flutes, saxophone, and strings). You can easily hear all of these additional instruments on, “Always Be With You,” where they are almost made more of a focal point; the sweet, softness of Denitia’s voice seems to carry the music right along, rather than the music carrying the singer. This song is a hidden gem in an album that I would already deem as a treasure trove of material. There are 6 tracks in a row that knock you over with solid quality.
Starting with “Tightrope,” (the standout track, in my opinion), listeners are jerked in a surprisingly different direction from the first track with a sound that isn’t heard anywhere else on the album. This is the real “foot-stomper,” centered around a catchy, grinding guitar riff, combined with a style that is similar to Jack White’s bluesy folk-rock, and the approach of a songstress like Grace Potter.
While “Tightrope” has the most “exceptional” sound on the album, the majority of the other songs are equally as strong in different ways. Odigie channels Rosario Flores or Suzanne Vega on “In Flames,” with a Latin-infused feel, while the ethereal ambience of “Sold” is incomparable. Even the tunes that were previously used on “Brick by Brick” were revamped, and have become considerably different versions from the previous ones, while the other remaining tracks surprisingly lean towards being a bit more experimental. Some of the songs even sound borderline industrial, such as, “What Is It Like,” which is, yet again, another interesting and pleasant contrast.
Denitia Odigie has reached a new level of maturity with the sound and direction she has taken with “Vitality,” yet she still manages to sound fresh and classic at the same time. You should hear her for yourself at her Nashville CD Release Show, which is taking place on October 17th at the Hard Rock Cafe. You can snag a copy of her album here.–Erin Manning