Born and raised in San Francisco, singer/songwriter Adriana Evans is possibly one of the most on slept female soul artists in contemporary music. Though her name is as relevant to the “neo-soul movement” as her counterparts, neo-soul pioneers Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, she has received only a modicum of the attention. Her classic self-titled debut released in 1997 was rich with live instrumentation, poetic lyrics and smooth jazz vocals, peaked at #33 on the Billboard charts, yet somehow remained an underground secret. Though her next two albums, Kismet and Nomadic, received some unfavorable reviews for being overly experimental; her latest album, El Camino, is bringing her sound back to her roots and beyond.
Fittingly, El Camino, which is Spanish for ”the road”, takes you on a journey through real soul music, where sounds are live and genres are deftly meshed from jazz, afro-Brazilian, funk and more. Evans’ self-proclaimed nomad existence between Mexico, Los Angeles, and Brazil is clearly evident on this album. “Hey Now” is lovely with a smooth yet up-beat rhythm with light percussion, flutes, and everything from R&B, Latino and jazz influences dancing together as one. On the other hand, “Undercover” is a more laid back, mid-tempo song with a touch of funk. Her flirty lyrics are elusive in a sense, because one couldn’t guarantee whether she’s singing of a lover under wraps or literally under the covers; maybe it’s both. Much like a poet, you never really know where Evans is going with her message but you’re sure to be content just listening, allowing it to just be. It gets even better with the song “Before You” where an acoustic guitar carries the melody as she seems to effortlessly show off her Minnie Ripperton-esque voice and style.
El Camino definitely isn’t a “skip-over to the good songs” album because all the songs are perfectly crafted and easy to listen to. Anyone who appreciates Sade’s smoothness, Jill Scott’s powerful vocals and the styles of legends such as Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington will definitely appreciate El Camino. Evans’ voice can best be described as unearthly (in a heavenly sense) because it’s strong but not forcefully so and light enough to let your mind drift into your favorite place. But don’t expect an album that’s limited because Adriana Evans is a vet of infusing styles that may not obviously fit together. And though the 12-track album is reminiscent of her debut with its summery jazzy vibe, it takes it to “a whole ’nother level” as she weaves a beautiful tapestry of sounds into every song.
