Soulutionary One

Soulutionary One is the long-awaited new album from singer/songwriter Stephanie Nicole. Ever since she dropped her Voices EP back in the spring of 2013, excited ripples have been circulating among the neo-soul cognoscenti about this California-based songstress, and she doesn’t disappoint with this fine set, once again reuniting her with co-producer /co-writer and soulmate Craig Perkins, a.k.a. Classroom Craig.

Like many a successful artist before her, Stephanie had a stint on stage doing The Wiz, but as well as musical theatre, she also has a background in classical music back in her native Virginia, working with many renowned composers and conductors and picking up awards as she went (the ‘Festival Choir’ competition won three years in a row 1999-2001 as a member of the Select Women’s Ensemble).

Firmly in the tradition of Erykah Badu, Macy Gray and India Arie, Stephanie writes socially-conscious and spiritually uplifting material tinged with her diverse influences drawn from rock, classical and jazz. Real instruments supply a full tone palette for the eclectic range of moods and styles, from the almost post-punk vibe of Replenish to the ‘cosmic’ eastern drone of Maha Meditation.

Having gigged extensively in both Virginia and Cali in support of the aforementioned EP, Stephanie has also already been included in BamaLoveSoul’s compilation of new music, On Deck 2, and the track Diligence in particular has been receiving lots of attention from discerning critics and DJs everywhere. Expect to hear much more of Ms. Nicole.