Kinny - Can't Kill a Dame With Soul (2012)

2012 sophomore solo album from the opera chanteuse turned singer-songwriter. Kinny's lifelong passion for Reggae, Jazz and Soul music intertwines with her classical training for a unique and potent style. This album finds this self-proclaimed 'freestyle improv vocalist' channelling her trademark impulsive, freeform stylings into a more reflective set of deeply personal songs that explore escalating struggles with mental instability and identity. Kinny's captivating power and range of vocal expression, her diverse cultural heritage (a mix of Jamaican, Native Canadian and Swedish), and the twists and turns her life has taken all feed into the music; and her richly emotive sound never shies away from a dancefloor-filling groove or a stream-of-consciousness lyrical flow. The warm, immersive and soulful soundscape created by Norwegian producer/musician duo Souldrop (who also produced two tracks on her first album) provides the perfect cocoon for Kinny's crystal-edged voice, the eclectic sonic palette ranging organically from big bassy beats and keys to acoustic instrumentation and percussion.