“The progress of popular music has stalled. There hasn’t been a significant musical uprising since grunge and there wasn’t a whiff of freshness at this year’s Grammy Awards.

If there’s anything good about that, it’s that artists have had to draw on past revolutions to find a groove.

Daphne Willis’ previous albums have been mostly folky pop efforts remarkable mostly for her hugely versatile, and underused, voice.
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“After blowing in on a bluesy/acoustic jam breeze on her 2010 big-label debut, What To Say, Daphne Willis shakes it off, if you will, in favor of a soulful, groove-oriented sound on the outstanding Because I Can. Because she can, Willis makes it clear from the start that this is a different animal with the brass-and-bass opener, “Shake It Off,” which is sure to set listeners to shimmying and shaking. A similar energy can be found on “Do What You Want,” “Spit It Out,” and the rockier “I Want To,” while “Is Anyone There” reminds us of Willis’ penchant for island-influenced music. As is befitting a piano and-vocal song called “Sad,” there are tears just under the surface, and “One By One” finds the young songwriter maturing as a lyricist. Duets with Trevor Hall (“Circumstances”) and Megan McCormick McCormick (“Weatherman”) prove that Willis plays well with others. A strong and admirable achievement, Because I Can won’t have you asking, “What’chu talkin’ about, Willis?”
- Gregg Shapiro

“Nashville newcomer Daphne Willis gave her brand new album, Because I Can, a fitting title. It certainly answers one of our questions: “Why does she move from a saucy soul/funk gumbo to punchy pop/rock to VH1-ready piano balladry, all before the album’s halfway mark?”

Yep, because she’s bold and capable enough to do so, and to pour a passionate, expressive and endearingly vulnerable vocal performance into whatever backdrop she chooses.”…continue reading