It's cool how rooted Philidelphia singer and songwriter Chioke's self-titled EP is. All too often, R'nB albums have a tendency to get swept up in their own emotions, forgetting to touch the ground beneath them. While it's impressive to witness the heights that some R'nB singers can reach, it can also give you a crick in your neck just trying to keep track of them. Sometimes it's better (for both my level of interest and posture) when a singer is honest and sees eye-to-eye with her audience and that's where Chioke excels. Her EP has a live kind of feel to hit, warm and impactful. Like she's performing in a loft converted into a gallery space; sunlight pouring in behind her as she swings her hips in time with the music flowing from a backing band of trusted associates. Chioke has a very physical presence in the mix on her EP and it gives these tracks so much body the air currents in the room seem to shift and swirl in interaction with her voice as if she had just walked through the room. The backing instrumentation is altogether inspired, featuring innovative takes on numerous timeless touchstones to anchor her performance. "Rushing In" has a four-on-the-floor retro '60s beat with lyrics that are haunted by regret. Turning the page to the following track, "Muse" has a dreamy, crowd-pleasing guitar line and generally feels like a bewitching take on the light funk of The Time. "Great Lake" exists in a space between '90s neo-soul, the sunbleached Cali funk of Knxwledge, and the soft whiplash of Supreme Beings of Leisure, while "Out on the Road" see Chioke's biting flow riding astride competing melodies of breezy synths and tormented guitar chords like a daredevil attempting to ride to motorcycles simultaneously while jumping a semi-trailer. Now that she's cultivated some sturdy roots, there is no telling the peaks she'll reach as she continues to nurture her talents and grow this project.
Out on Core Valu.