Danielia Cotton - Rare Child

Genre soul Publisher Cottontown Records External Links Danielia Cotton's MySpace

Let’s get one thing out of the way: Danielia Cotton and her latest album, Rare Child, are nearly impossible to classify if one insists on using the typical genre labels of modern music. On one hand you have a voice that is reminiscent of classic soul and gospel; on the other, you have a singer backed by traditional, if somewhat tired, rock band. While some may find this juxtaposition initially off-putting, those who put in the effort will be rewarded by a vocalist with tremendous range and a unique personal style.

Born in middle-of-nowhere, New Jersey, Danielia Cotton came of age with an eclectic musical background. She began signing as a soloist in her church’s gospel choir and at home spent her time listening to Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and Tina Turner. With Rare Child, Danielia’s second full-length album, these influences are all thrown together… at times with mixed results. The weakest aspect of these tracks is the band. That’s not to say that they are in any way musically incompetent. Unfortunately, the instrumentals border on generic rock and blues that would have felt worn in the mid-90s. While the band does shine in spots (notably on title track “Rare Child,” with it’s driving guitar licks and pounding drums, and “Running,” in the form of a pleasant acoustic guitar and subtle piano/organ combination), for the most part it seems to be background noise that serves to showcase Ms. Cotton’s vocal talents.

The artist’s vocals are far and away the high point of this collection. Seemingly without effort, Danielia shifts from powerful soul (on “Make U Move,” sounding for the world like her idol Tina Turner) to quiet, subtle, melodic (as in “Let It Ride” and “Bound"). She is just as comfortable hitting the highest of high notes as in the lower registers. Lyrically, the album is consistently strong. Drawing largely from her personal experiences (“Make U Move,” with it’s refrain “Cause I’m a little black girl/ Who’ll rock your world/ So come move with me” recalls growing up as a minority in a nearly all white rural community), she is deeply invested in the songs she has penned. At the opposite end of the album, “Bound” is a regretful and introspective track, in which Danielia ponders a connection with a lover and whether it is something she can escape. From the energetic and sometimes angry lyrics of the front end of the disc, this track is another example of her ability to work outside of what could be seen as her “comfort-zone.”

In Rare Child, Danielia Cotton has created something truly rare indeed: A collection of songs that defy the easy labels that are often tossed around the indie scene and at the same time avoid the pitfall of appearing gimmicky. And, while it can definitely take some effort to wrap one’s head around all this album has to offer, if you do put in the time, you will find it far from wasted.