Reviews: Selina Carerra

The past decade has given music lovers their fair share of subpar music, but thankfully we’ve all survived. We’ve managed to live through droves of copycat musical acts, One-Hit Wonders and hundreds of songs that had no direction, meaning or purpose. We have survived the tumultuous pain that the industry has bestowed upon us (most notably the thousands of artists who’ve use Autotune as a crutch), but our patience has dwindled and out desire for great tunes and fresh sounds has grown exponentially. Just when must of us were on the verge of giving up on the music industry, we’ve been delivered one of the most prolific and organic artists since Lauryn Hill (prior to her emotional breakdown), Ms. Selina Carrera.

Like Hill, Carrera is a multifaceted artist whose music extends through various genres and demographics. Her latest efforts are displayed on her MySpace page (www.myspace.com/selinacarrera) and showcase both her stalwart vocalism and lyrical power. The inspirational “Only Be” blends rudiments of Old School Hip-Hop, Classic Soul and R&B and is sure to leave the listener longing for more. A drum pattern borrowed from Funkadelic tangos with sultry string licks as Selina’s motivational passages encourages the meek to find their inner strength and to conform to their God-given right; greatness.  The song touches on a variety of topics to include equality, combating social injustices and being content with one’s self. Her tone fluctuates through sweet mezzo-soprano octaves and coats the track with mounds of hot buttered soul.  There are loads of intangibles that transition between the measures of this composition that add flair to this solid track. The song’s saxophone riffs, congas and scratching work in concert with the voice of this mighty siren to give the audience a pleasurable and memorable musical experience.

Carrera flips the script and parades her unyielding emceeing skills on the jazzy laid-back groove “Raw Bounce”. The tune is reminiscent of classic Digable Planets, as she rhymes about her evolution to adulthood and her plans to come up. Her intricate wordplay and flow patterns congeal her credibility as a dexterous lyricist while she expels lovely notes that solidify her singing capabilities.  The instrumentation is as smooth as silk. A synthesized piano loop serves as the conductor in this brilliant ensemble and keeps all of its pieces moving like a well-oiled machine. Heart pounding drums will satisfy bass junkies as the thudding kick drum explodes like a roadside bomb. The upright bass adds bottom to the underbelly of the song as the prominent hi hat acts as the song’s metronome and sustains the track’s tempo. All of these elaborately placed pieces collaborate flawlessly with Carrera’s impeccable flow.

Another song that boasts promise is the lively, vigorous, high-impact track aptly titled “Energy”. Contrasting samples clash in an orderly fashion over this Soul inspired Hip-Hop classic. Raging horns duel with a grooving bass line for preeminence as each note bursts with rigorous kinetics. Carrera continues to showcase her unrivaled talents as both a singer and an emcee. She drops an assortment of punch lines and metaphors that will excite the salivary glands of the avid lyricism fanatic. Her flow is as tight as a fresh pair of skinny jeans as she spits vivacious rhymes over a novel sample. Each intellectual dart is fortified with poignant parables that give the audience one to grow on.

Selina Carrera is a brilliant artist with loads of creativity, organic flavor and acute musical aptitude. Her lyrical abilities outshine many of her peers and her vocal attributes are a force to be reckoned with. For years the music industry has forced us to accept talentless cookie cutter acts as the standard. Selina Carrera has raised the bar and shall force other artists to catch up.

5k

Grand