Maiysha
This Much Is True (Eusonia)
By Deirdre Sayre
Published: September 17th, 2008 | 9:00am
The neo-soul movement’s newest siren has been sighted, and her name is Maiysha. The Brooklyn-based artist heralds her debut with This Much Is True, a 13-song calling card rooted in classic soul. Although Maiysha, whose influences include Prince, Blondie, and Donna Summer, has admitted she has no desire to be “locked into any one niche — lyrically or musically." Her 12 original compositions, co-written with Grammy-winning producer Scott Jacoby reflect this ideal, incorporating elements of a variety of genres.
The album opens with “Over My Head,” an examination of a relationship going too fast; an angelic array of backing vocals supports Maiysha’s rich alto, the tempo increasing gradually to climax in a frantic drum and bass beat. The dance-funk track "Chase" is a mantra for romantic empowerment — Maiysha’s catchy refrain “You’ve got to chase me if you want me baby” propelled by bursts of blasting horns. Both "Chase" and the organ heavy "Orbit" showcase the singer’s amazingly elastic range, her lush alto expanding almost to mezzo soprano as she hits all the high notes without sounding forced, emotional acuity resonant in each note. Her voice most memorably slides into the red light sector on her seductive duet with Martin Luther, “You Don’t Know.”
Maiysha devotes several tracks to deliver a nuanced exploration of the excesses of capitalism, commercialism, and combat. The raunchy organ and P-funk infused bass line of "Celebrity" buttress the singer’s challenge to those sacrificing personal integrity for stardom, with rapper Bahamadia delivering the flow. The jazzy trumpet solos of "Gorgeous" lighten a continuing exploration of the theme, but Maiysha’s most pointed probe of current events is delivered in "U.S.H.," where she bemoans living in a country where “Fear is selling so much better than faith these days … where I consume and I conquer / And I tell myself that it’s just the American way.” The album concludes with a stunning blues-based arrangement of Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer," leaving the listener tantalized with the prospect of Maiysha's certain to be stellar future output.
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Maiysha’s official site
Maiysha’s MySpace page
Issue #35
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