Testimony, Volume 1: Life & Relationship

India.Arie’s singing has become much more eloquent

The neo soul singer and songwriter was born in Atlanta, Georgia but adheres to a more Northern style combining features of R&B, funk and folk doing it in a special feminine way. It’s been four years already since India.Arie’s second album Voyage To India was awarded with Grammy, and in 2006 India.Arie got another one – in the nomination Best Pop Vocal Collaboration – for her duet with the pop legend Stevie Wonder, Time To Love. The name of her third album prompts two things. First, it is only the first one in the whole series; second, it is connected with the singer’s inner world, her thoughts and beliefs. As before, India.Arie chooses simple topics for her songs skillfully complicating them with spirituality, philosophy and her delicate feminine perception. On Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship we again hear her preaching self-love, optimism and indiscriminate forgiveness, but this time she sounds smoother and more persuasive than ever. The new album provides a great chance to enjoy the unusual melodies and India.Arie’s singing which has become much more eloquent. The variety of tempos and moods, a wide range of the vocals and a very appropriate blend of old-fashioned and modern instruments distinguish Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship against the background of other R&B creations.

Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship is the most effective way to get rid of despair

The album opens with a very melodious Intro introducing the general slant of the whole record. A little bit sad song These Eyes about departure is followed up by a cover of Don Henley’s hit The Heart Of The Matter, which sounds really heartwarming. The optimistic track Good Morning concerns the hard times anyone can have and how to handle them, while Private Party tells what advantages there are in solitude. There’s Hope can inspire those who have lost their faith in success and a very nice track India’s Song is remarkable for its felicitous instrumental arrangement. The joyful and happy song Summer featuring Rascal Flatts and Victor Wooten makes any pain simply vanish and the hit I Am Not My Hair featuring Akon with its hip-hop rhythm and a wonderful chorus is sure to become one of your favorite songs this summer. Great Grandmother and Better People will make all the worries go away and the cheerfully impetuous track I Choose is included for a slight warming up. The album closer This Too Shall Pass with its name being an allusion to Solomon’s ring reminds us of the fact that whatever bad happens it is not to last forever. Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship is undoubtedly the most effective way to get rid of despair and help you come to the best decision whenever you find yourself at a loss.

India.Arie ruins all the dogmas

In the time we are living it is extremely hard to remain frank and open-hearted however it does not at all trouble India.Arie. With her new album she has not only retained her favorite topics but fearlessly let the world peep into her soul. She’s got nothing to hide, her life is happy, obviously sinless and having such a big heart the singer just can not help sharing with the others. Her songs are not overloaded with religious implication, though some might think so. India.Arie’s only desire is to prompt to those who are in trouble that there is always a way out. No matter what can happen it is possible to find strength in love, in faith or simply in oneself. The singer is sometimes accused of dogmatism, but in fact she ruins all the dogmas. For instance in I Am Not My Hair she brushes aside all the world standards of beauty and in There’s Hope claims that the most popular attributes of richness are unnecessary and meretricious. Turning to the inner world of all the people India.Arie touches our soul’s most sensitive strings and leads us to the world of calm hope and love. What else good songs should be about? If it were not for such singers as India.Arie the music would be lost amongst the desperately sad no-way-out ballads or aggressive songs full of negative energy. The singer helps us leave aside the dark routine and brings a joyfully glorious ray of light into our lives.