The fact that Dajla’ s 1st album is one of the most awaited albums of the year isn’t really surprising. But we can already say that it is one of the best albums of the year 2006. Soul Poetry is very well titled. This little miracle of hypnotic soul has us dive in the same instantly soothing feeling as Jill Scott’s first opus. You must know that Dajla’s parents were music lovers, and that she took piano lessons from age 6 before picking up the bass after her encounter age 18 with L.A. band Fishbone.
And no matter how interesting her experience as a keyboard player and a bassist/backing vocalist was, she has definitely found her place as a singer. Being a real musician, Dajla’s voice has got swing. And if her trips to America (from Los Angeles to New York) made her confident enough to pick up the mic, then we can thank America!
Besides, Benjamin Bouton, producer and multi-skilled musician seems to have found in Dajla his musical other half. On the programme, we have jazz, soul, and this mysterious thing called groove especially when it’s got this film score quality like in Soul Poetry. Indeed, the first emotions one feels at the beginning of the album are very unique and bring up a visual memory of Los Angeles in a David Lynch movie, London under the rain, Paris in the middle of the night or a simple jazz club. Long life to Dajla! ”
By Sandie Ornat
