Dale Novella armors herself in fearless rock n’ soul energy on her “SangBxtch” album [EP]

For whatever reason, I kinda expected Dale Novella to make the kind of fluidly flowing R&B music that quietly spirits you away with cozy arrangements and soothing harmonies. Maybe I let the “Novella” portion of her name ease me into an unwarranted sense of familiarity, but I went on a hunt for music from the New York by way of South Carolina singer with some expectations already in place. My presumptions, however, proved to be way off base once I pressed play on her newly dropped SangBxtch!! album – a rousing, rock-minded undertaking that reflects Dale’s views on love, materialism, self-identity, and more.

In hindsight, the album’s title should’ve also been a clue that I needed to prepare myself for something with a bit of an edge to it.

The track “Money” sets things off with a thickset, electro-funk bounce that marches out of the speaker ready and set to get a tightly packed club pulsing. With a sexy air about her and breathy vocals, Dale moves in close and offers listeners a quick rundown of all the things that money can and can’t provide before asking us “what would you do for love?“. The lead-in single alludes to the blend of styles that Novella has in store for her listeners, as the song has elements of soul, rock, hip-hop, and even a pinch of house-music. It also gives us a gratifying taste of our host’s captivating rock-goddess growl. “What We Want” beefs up the rock n’ soul energy hinted at in “Money” with a tense commentary on the future-shock that goes along with the world’s growing dependence on technology and our avid hunger for fame (no matter how fleeting). The synthesized horns and thundering rhythms give the song a foreboding, almost dystopian presence, and Dale’s commanding voice is more than up to the task of matching the power of the production with her badass sound. “Black Girl Magic” sweeps listeners off of their feet with its stripped-down and rootsy rocker-chick energy – with Novella abounding herself in a fired-up zeal as she urges her fellow black women to recognize the power and the glory that comes with that fundamental part of their identity. The tune also relies on some ingeniously layered vocals (possibly performed solely by Dale) that provide all of the melodies, harmonies, and rhythms for the arrangement. The singer even drops a “brush ya shoulders off” styled rhyme to help enliven those sisters that may feel beat down by life. An overdriving electric guitar and a lightly skittering drum-machine fill out a scorching break-up letter entitled “Haarlem” – which finds our electric lady indulging in some shout-to-the-rafters catharsis as well as some purgative spoken-word poetry.

Proving that music tends to be especially memorable when it colors outside of the lines of one (or two…or three) genres, Dale Novellla‘s SangBxtch!! project helps to establish her as a powerhouse afro-rock player and definitely makes her as a name to watch from this point on. You can show your support by purchasing the EP from your favorite spot below as well as check out more from Dale Novella by visiting the links listed.

” ‘SangBxtch!!’ has so much of my soul in it. So many experiences documented, political opinions expressed, love expressed, all to amazing music. I hope you enjoy the experience.” – Dale Novella

vibes – badass, fearless, rousing, soulful, seductive, grown woman biz, cool, cocky, sassy, courageous, black girls rock, ballsy, defiant, rebellious

Stream & buy Dale Novella’s music on…
( Amazon | Bandcamp | Deezer | Google Play | iTunes | Spotify | Tidal )

https://dalenovella.bandcamp.com/album/sang-bxtch

Connect with Dale Novella on…
( Facebook | Instagram | Official Site | ReverbNation | Soundcloud | Twitter | YouTube )