Looking at the retro-influenced covershot of Shayna Steele’s debut album you get a first impression that the 70s may play a crucial part in her music. It’s mainly the funk from yesterday that has influenced Shayna’s music. But Shayna has also listened to what’s dominating the music scene today to create her very own musical blend of funk with a beneficial injection of urban/R&B influences.
You Are My Soul is a good example of Shayna’s sound. Listening to the first bars of the song you might think this is just another urban/R&B song but let the song evolve and you’re soon listening to a great uptempo funk fusion monster with a real horn section.
In my opinion it’s the inclusion of this brass section that gives Shayna’s music a fresh vivid sound (of course besides the quality of her voice and the songs). The horns also spice up the uptempo driving Dying, the rock-funk of High Yella and Moving On, which sounds like a live performance of a classic uptempo Rhythm & Blues song. Great!
Whatever You Do shows that Shayna does not only feel at home with uptempo stuff but also can handle a soulful ballad to good effect.
There are only two points of criticism here. Compared to the other five songs So In 2 U sounds a little bit lacklustre missing the raw energy of the other uptempo tracks. And with only six songs and just over twenty-five minutes this album is much too short.
Overall it’s a great introduction of Shayna Steele to a wider audience and makes me curious about things to come.
Tracklisting of Shayna Steele: 1. You Are My Soul/ 2. So In 2 U/ 3. Dying/ 4. Whatever You Do/ 5. High Yella/ 6. Moving On | released 2004 by Shayna Steele
For more infos visit shaynasteele.com and cdbaby.com.
[If you want to discuss Shayna Steele’s music, you can leave your comment below and also use the forum]
2005/5/5 at 04:43
I was lucky enough to have Shanya Steele preform at my school, and she is AMAZING!!!
I met her and out of all the people who preformed, she was one of the most down to earth, laid-back person in the biz that I have met. After the show we talked for a few mins about all sorts of stuff, and she wasnt condesending at all!! She made me feel special and seemed to really like me and my school.
She’s beautiful and its really empowering for me to see women like me-women of color doing their Thang and using their talent for good and “making it” in showbiz. Becuause being a fellow preformer, and African-American, I know you have to work twice as hard and be twice as good to be noticed, and Shanya has done that– twice as well!
-Peace&love,
SV
2005/7/5 at 17:25
I am from Shayna’s home town of Biloxi, MS, and remember hearing her sing as a teenager and knew she was different from anyone singing in this area. I also remember her first year at the University of Southern Mississippi but she made it in spite of those who tried to derail her. She is a great friend and sings as great as she does because it comes from her very soul! High Yella encapsulates her college experience but she left USM as an “Outstanding Freshman Woman”. She is so fresh and real that at Biloxi High she was called “Dear Abbey” because she was always helping friends out. She is highly respected in Mississippi and changed a lot of people while a still a girl growing up. Everyone here still follows her career and can’t wait for the music industry’s “great awakening” when they finally propel Shayna into the national spotlight…she is so deserving! All our best to a super girl, your friends in Biloxi
2005/2/6 at 20:13
[…] combines funk, soul and rock that can’t be pigeonholed. Take Yewande for example or Shayna Steele, Monique Debose or Nadir. Nadir, pronounced Nay-deer, was born Cur […]
2005/2/6 at 20:14
[…] combines funk, soul and rock that can’t be pigeonholed. Take Yewande for example or Shayna Steele, Monique Debose or Nadir. Nadir, pronounced Nay-deer, was born Cur […]
2005/2/6 at 20:14
[…] combines funk, soul and rock that can’t be pigeonholed. Take Yewande for example or Shayna Steele, Monique Debose or Nadir. Nadir, pronounced Nay-deer, was born Cur […]