On her intensely heartfelt, soul-searing full length debut, the daughter of legendary bluesman Taj Mahal draws from that celebrates her family’s legacy – but, as per the album title, takes it into the modern era with a deeper sense of hip, edgy R&B and gospel that taps into Amy Winehouse, Sharon Jones, even the militant side of Stevie Wonder.
She couches her anthems in fresh, funky beats, jangling guitars and sizzling brass sections, but a more personal side of her artistry emerges on the stark ballads, where her voice and minimal instrumentation is all that is needed to carry the rich emotion of the moment. The songs started life as personal letters to herself, and that intimacy shines through even the most boisterous tunes.