26 Apr 2024
Lou'ana - Single Review: Feel This
01 Sep 2020 // A review by malexa
It’s no surprise that Lou’ana has been nominated in three categories at the Pacific Music Awards. What would surprise is if she didn’t scoop up the two main ones – Best Soul/RnB artist and Best Female Artist. The third – Best Music Video – is too much of a lottery.
The industry nods come on the back of three stunning singles, which have showcased a vocal range and power that has shades of Amy Winehouse, Macy Gray and Tami Neilson and the indescribable longing of wolves howling at the full moon.
Feel This is the official entree to her debut album, which is due out in October, and simply oozes funk with lashings of spunk.
The song has a retro 70’s feel to it, with an organ groove reminiscent of Stevie Wonder and a sharp but 'hip' horn arrangement that would have done Tower of Power proud. Then there’s Lou’ana stalking a vocal line with gritty determination that gnaws away at the frustration of a relationship that’s stalled.
In the past, she’s shown she has the power to slam dunk a song. This time around she’s wrestling with one, which highlights different nuances in her vocal range.
It would be remiss not to mention the input of producer Nathan Judd, who harnesses a 14-piece band and a locomotive of a voice into a hit-in-the-making that never over or under-plays itself.
I’m definitely feeling this.
Rating:
( 5 / 5 )
About Lou'ana
Whitney has performed all around New Zealand as part of the inimitable funk troup Hipstamatics, playing a multitude of festivals across the country including some of their favourite haunts such as Hipstamatics’ “birth place”, Grand Central in Ponsonby. The spell-binding artist also performs as part of Two Many Chiefs, and has supported a number of New Zealand jazz acts including Andrew Faleatua at Samoana Jazz Festival and the 2015 Pacific Music Awards, as well as providing live vocals for kiwi electronic outfit Sola Rosa.
2019 will be the year Lou’ana releases her debut solo material to the world, as she takes to the road on a number of dates soon to be announced.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Lou'ana
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