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Lisa Maffia releases her debut album, First
Lady, through Independiente records on the 11th August.
She's been known as The First Lady of So Solid, the
Jewel in the Crown and the 24-Carat Princess. She's perfectly
blended sweetness and streetness on the melodic choruses
that have taken her group to the top. She's become an icon
of high-rolling glamour and a model of determination for
young mums everywhere - and managed all this as one piece
of a 30-strong Battersea garage troupe.
Now, with a hit single under her belt and a superb debut
album about to drop, she's taken centre stage. And looking
back on it now, she's been waiting for this for a mighty
long time.
Even though first single 'All Over'
is a stomping girls' night out party tune dedicated to
Dior, Cristal and garage
rave glamour, the rest of the album we see Lisa veering away
from the garage tradition and moving into the glossy world
of R&B, From the gothic chants and keyboard burps of
dark, midtempo monster 'Down', the electric funk of sisterhood
anthem 'Women Of The World' or the bossa nova swing and Spanish
guitar intro to second single 'In Love', it's everything
you didn't expect - and Lisa pulls it off with flying colours.
Lisa is fast becoming a bona fide style icon: photographers
have always zoomed in on her assured, glacial glamour in
group photos, and Lisa remains the group's most requested
interviewee.
With her inspired solo debut though, she proves she's so
much more than just the First Lady of So Solid. The So Solid
studio squad and Lisa's distinctive vocal style have combined
to forge a musical identity that goes beyond the standard
UK scene.
There's enough melodic punch and
dancefloor swagger to beat American R&B's powerhouse
producers on their own terms, and more than enough spirit
and personality to prove that
Lisa is, and will remain, very much her own woman. The 24-Carat
Princess has proved her mettle; the music is Solid gold. |
