One could be forgiven for hearing "Too Much" from young singer Johari Noelle and thinking that you were hearing some lost Beyonce track. Noelle's voice is so rich and expressive here that it's almost stunning. And, thankfully, the Chicago-based singer is finally dropping her new EP, Things You Can't Say Out Loud, today.
While there's bits here that will earn Johari that Beyonce comparison, there are a few others that showcase her wider range, namely the sleek "Regrets", an offering that suggests nothing so much as some of those solo cuts from Syd from The Internet. Still, Johari is more interested in conventional structures, and the tunes here steer closer to mainstream soul than anything too risky. And to say that is to acknowledge that Johari knows what kind of material suits her voice, and is content to master numbers like this one, and "Show Me", before taking any wild stylistic leaps. Similarly, "Crazy Lonely" eases back just enough to hint at the sort of paths Noelle can take in the future, the tune a languid one with the vocals perfectly suited to the undulating melodic line.
What's here on Things You Can't Say Out Loud is expertly crafted soul-pop And it's the sort of material that suggests the emergence of a real natural talent here, with Johari Noelle clearly able to deliver music that's both fairly straightforward and full of real heart and soul. Things You Can't Say Out Loud is out now.
More details on Johari Noelle via her official website, or her official Facebook page.
[Photo: James McCarter]