It is understandable that when an artist releases an album on their own label that the freedom from that better represents their style. Thankfully, Nikka Costa's Pro*Whoa!, released on her new Go Funk Yourself Records, is no exception to this rule as it represents the fire, the funk, the soul, and the edge of this phenomenal vocalist.
Make no mistake, Pro*Whoa! is probably the truest definition of the kind of artist that Nikka Costa is. Known mostly for being a funk and soul artist, the self proclaimed "Funky White B*tch" spreads her wings to display her lack of fear and wealth of confidence. The title track is probably the best example of this.
Swirling with heavy electric guitars and synth about the chorus, Nikka spends a majority of the track rapping! A total ego-boosting rant, she glosses over her career pointing out that she's been singing since she was in diapers. Executed as more of a concept song that would have more place in her stage show, this song is high energy and edgy.
Most of the songs on this EP follow along the same aggression and tone. "Nylons In A Rip" has a sort of anti-love theme that it shares with "Never Wanna C U Again" that further emphasizes not only the strength of Nikka's personality, but the strength of her voice. It starts with a heavy hitting drumline that leads into her verse. As the chorus drops, the song's heavy rock tone brings the volume of the edge up to 10. The song continues to see-saw between calm and rage in just a way that matches Nikka's personality. "Never Wanna C U Again" has a kind of golden soul sound to it that boasts a Tina Turner -like strength and personality. "Stuff" features Nikka sort of taking a page from Gwen Stefani in a track that seems like a No Doubt throwback. It is clear, though, that there is a strength or confidence within that oozes from within each song. This is the sign of an artist with diversity in both style and freedom.
Article comments
1 - X
Excellent review. Take another listen to the lyrics on "Nylons in a Rip"-- more there than was mentioned in this article.