Singer/songwriters are a dime a dozen these days, but while lately that genre has been dominated by the guys, some talented female artists are beginning to emerge. Take Dana Mase, aka Dana, for instance. Her fourth album and first release in five years,
Thread of Blue, has some engaging songs to go along with the slick production of Australia-based Ben Butler and Dana herself. And considering Dana achieved top 20 Billboard Internet sales and Top 40 AC/Adult Alternative statuses with her last record,
Thread of Blue already has a tough act to follow.
The title track and “Lover Set Free” have a Sara Maclachlan feel to them, not only in vocal quality but also in production value. “Tear Streaks” is a bit poppier but still somewhat laid back, ala Paula Cole. “Seraphim and Seagulls” has an addictive melody that will bounce around your head for days. “Lost in the Snow” is a keyboard and loop-driven piece that crosses somewhere between Maclachlan and new age artist Enya. “Tuscany” and “1,000,000 Miles” are clunkers compared to the rest of the songs, but the album closes on another positive note with “Touch and Go,” a beautiful piano ballad laced with strings.
The most impressive thing about Dana is that while you could easily draw comparisons to several name artists, she still manages to bring uniqueness to the table. She definitely has a sound that AAA/Hot AC formats tend to covet, to go along with some really good songs. Armed with an aggressive marketing campaign for
Thread of Blue, Dana may transition from lesser known to better known within a few months. Stay
tuned.
~Mike Farley
mfarley@bullz-eye.com
|
|
|