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Back with Motown, India.Arie is rejuvenated for her fifth album, which follows a lengthy hiatus. A series of mishaps, combined with some dissatisfaction regarding the sound of her recordings, prompted the break. She even contemplated leaving the industry. However, only the most attentive listeners will hear a considerable difference between SongVersation and the Testimony albums. Largely a low-key, gently uplifting affair with a soft, warm glow, 11 of its 16 tracks are enhanced with assistance from several Turkish musicians -- including percussionists, horn players, an oudist, and the Istanbul Strings -- who were recorded at the studio of Sezen Aksu (one of the guests on Testimony, Vol. 2). Longtime co-producer and instrumentalist Shannon Sanders remains, while new associate David Ryan Harris (Dionne Farris, John Mayer) is another major factor. The album's upbeat tone is set with the driving "Just Do You," a career highlight boasting a chorus that recalls the pre-chorus of Michael Jackson's "Rock with You." Apart from certain accents from the Turkish musicians, none of the material will surprise anybody. Sweet, sighing, relaxed numbers like "Flowers" ("You're the moral compass directing me to light") and "Cocoa Butter" ("You are like cocoa butter on my heart") are among the most India.Arie-like songs laid down. Everything -- most exemplified by "Break the Shell," inspired by an encounter with Cicely Tyson -- transmits positivity, even when she admits that, as a woman "almost four decades in" with neither a lifelong partner nor children, she's unsure of her position in life. It's evident that Arie's in a good place, both creatively and personally, yet SongVersation is not about self-satisfaction. She has no trouble bringing her listeners along.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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India.Arie, MainArtist - Shannon Sanders, Producer - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - Richard Furch, MixingEngineer
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
David Ryan Harris, Producer - Sean Hurley, Bass - India.Arie, MainArtist - Shannon Sanders, Producer - Drew Ramsey, Electric Guitar - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - John Catchings, Cello - CHRIS BRUCE, Electric Guitar - Mehmet Akatay, Percussion - Chantae Cann, Background Vocals - Göksun Çavdar, Bass Clarinet - Hasan Gözetlik, Trombone - Ametria Dock, Background Vocals - Carrie Bailey, Violin - Istanbul Strings, Strings
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
India.Arie, MainArtist - Shannon Sanders, Producer - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - BOB LEWIS, Trumpet - Chantae Cann, Background Vocals - Hasan Gözetlik, Trombone - Serhan Yasdıman, Guitar - Khari Simmons, Bass - Istanbul Strings, Strings - Traneshia Chiles, Background Vocals
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
David Ryan Harris, Producer - Sean Hurley, Bass - India.Arie, MainArtist - Shannon Sanders, Programmer - Dennis Hamm, Keyboards - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - Mehmet Akatay, Percussion - Chantae Cann, Background Vocals - Ametria Dock, Background Vocals - Istanbul Strings, Strings
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
India.Arie, MainArtist - Shannon Sanders, Producer - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - Mehmet Akatay, Percussion - Göksun Çavdar, Clarinet - Serhan Yasdıman, Guitar - Khari Simmons, Bass - Istanbul Strings, Strings
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
Sean Hurley, Bass - India.Arie, MainArtist - Shannon Sanders, Producer - Drew Ramsey, Guitar - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - CHRIS BRUCE, Acoustic Guitar - Chantae Cann, Background Vocals - Ametria Dock, Background Vocals - Istanbul Strings, Strings
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
India.Arie, MainArtist - Shannon Sanders, Producer - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - Hasan Gözetlik, Trombone
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
India.Arie, MainArtist - Julio Miranda, Guitar - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - Michael Ruff, Producer - Blue Miller, Guitar - Dru Castro, Producer - Dre Bowman, Bass - Joey Gonzales, Percussion
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
David Ryan Harris, Producer - Sean Hurley, Bass - India.Arie, MainArtist - Dennis Hamm, Keyboards - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - CHRIS BRUCE, Guitar
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
David Ryan Harris, Producer - Sean Hurley, Bass - India.Arie, MainArtist - Dennis Hamm, Keyboards - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - CHRIS BRUCE, Guitar
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
David Ryan Harris, Producer, Guitar - Sean Hurley, Bass - India.Arie, MainArtist - Dennis Hamm, Bass - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - CHRIS BRUCE, Guitar - Mehmet Akatay, Percussion - Göksun Çavdar, Clarinet - Hasan Gözetlik, Trumpet - Özer Arkun, Cello - Istanbul Strings, Strings
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
India.Arie, MainArtist - Shannon Sanders, Producer - Gramps Morgan, FeaturedArtist - Drew Ramsey, Guitar, Bass - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - Chantae Cann, Background Vocals - Joseph Miller, Drums - Mercy Myra, Background Vocals
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
India.Arie, MainArtist - Shannon Sanders, Producer - Drew Ramsey, Electric Guitar - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - Blue Miller, Acoustic Guitar - Mehmet Akatay, Percussion - Anthony David, Background Vocals - Chantae Cann, Background Vocals - Marcus Finney, Drums - Hasan Gözetlik, Trombone - Serhan Yasdıman, Guitar - Ametria Dock, Background Vocals - Khari Simmons, Bass - Istanbul Strings, Strings
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
David Ryan Harris, Producer - Sean Hurley, Bass - India.Arie, MainArtist - Dennis Hamm, Keyboards - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer - CHRIS BRUCE, Guitar - Ozan Bayraşa, Vocals
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
India.Arie, MainArtist - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
India.Arie, MainArtist - Chris Gehringer, MasteringEngineer
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
Album review
Back with Motown, India.Arie is rejuvenated for her fifth album, which follows a lengthy hiatus. A series of mishaps, combined with some dissatisfaction regarding the sound of her recordings, prompted the break. She even contemplated leaving the industry. However, only the most attentive listeners will hear a considerable difference between SongVersation and the Testimony albums. Largely a low-key, gently uplifting affair with a soft, warm glow, 11 of its 16 tracks are enhanced with assistance from several Turkish musicians -- including percussionists, horn players, an oudist, and the Istanbul Strings -- who were recorded at the studio of Sezen Aksu (one of the guests on Testimony, Vol. 2). Longtime co-producer and instrumentalist Shannon Sanders remains, while new associate David Ryan Harris (Dionne Farris, John Mayer) is another major factor. The album's upbeat tone is set with the driving "Just Do You," a career highlight boasting a chorus that recalls the pre-chorus of Michael Jackson's "Rock with You." Apart from certain accents from the Turkish musicians, none of the material will surprise anybody. Sweet, sighing, relaxed numbers like "Flowers" ("You're the moral compass directing me to light") and "Cocoa Butter" ("You are like cocoa butter on my heart") are among the most India.Arie-like songs laid down. Everything -- most exemplified by "Break the Shell," inspired by an encounter with Cicely Tyson -- transmits positivity, even when she admits that, as a woman "almost four decades in" with neither a lifelong partner nor children, she's unsure of her position in life. It's evident that Arie's in a good place, both creatively and personally, yet SongVersation is not about self-satisfaction. She has no trouble bringing her listeners along.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 00:53:39
- Main artists: India.Arie
- Label: BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ℗ 2013 India.Arie, Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
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