By NATALIE DISLA
35-year-old Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III, more commonly known as Aloe Blacc, is a Panamanian-American R&B singer and songwriter from California. His latest album, Lift Your Spirit, featuring hit single, “The Man,” is currently 18th on iTunes’ charts.
“The Man,” has been on the Billboard charts for 11 weeks and is current at number 12 on The Hot 100. The song is about living up to one’s potential and facing one’s problems, so it has an empowering effect on its listeners.
As the voice behind Avicii’s top hit, “Wake Me Up,” Blacc also features an acoustic version of the song on his cd. This laid-back edition of the song allows one to focus on his soulful vocals instead of the upbeat cadence of the original song. The original song was on the Billboard charts for 23 weeks.
At first, not many people knew who Blacc was. While he was the vocal lead in “Wake Me Up,” he was not given direct credit for it. It was not until after Blacc released his latest album that one would realize he sang “Wake Me Up” since it was featured on his personal cd. Though his acoustic version is not nearly as successful as Avicii’s, he has now given himself the credit for his vocals and more people know who he is.
His powerful voice also delivers a strong message in his songs. Songs such as “Love is the Answer,” “Here Today” and “Lift Your Spirit” are inspiring and down-to-earth. These soulful tunes send positive vibes with lyrics like “We ain’t promised tomorrow, so I’m gonna live for today,” in “Here Today.” Lyrics like these inspire people to live as if it were one’s last day on Earth. Contrary to other artists who solely sing about topics that will sell, Blacc focuses on internal issues facing people worldwide. These all show how he is like a young man trapped in an old soul. “Love is the Answer” specifically leaves one pondering as he says “People hungry on the streets, it ain’t fair, but you don’t think about it until it’s you.” This makes one grateful for what they have, unlike other artists who write songs which leave listeners with materialistic needs.
Now, a once commonly unknown artist from California, has soared the charts and earned the recognition he deserves. In April, he will perform at Coachella along with many other successful artists, such as Pharell Williams and Jhene Aiko.
The 411
Album Title: Lift Your Spirit
Release date: March 11, 2014
Cost: $7.99
Rating: 4 out of 5