Danielia Cotton

Music review - Danielia Cotton

I can recall several times in my life when I heard a song on the radio for the first time from a new artist and said to myself, "That's a hit." or "They're going to be huge." I did it with Joss Stone, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Smashmouth, etc. Now, I'm no producer or talent scout(maybe I should be?) but I've got a pretty good track record. I've heard enough great music by great musicians that never "made it" to know that it isn't just the music that gets you to the big time.



It's luck. It's timing. It's the one big break. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to know someone on the inside.



All that being said, I'd like to direct your listening ears to Danielia Cotton. I listen regularly to a podcast called Bandana Blues that features great blues music, commentary and interviews with artists. I'll be doing a music podcast review in the upcoming days. On their last podcast, they featured a song called "Devil In Disguise" by Danielia Cotton and let me tell you, it absolutely blew me away. The song has power and raw emotion and her voice just rips through it and sends chills down my spine. I later found out that she also plays the guitar. Now I can't stop listening to her self titled EP and full album release, "Small White Town".



In the music and voice I hear touches of Janis Joplin, Black Crowes, Lenny Kravitz and Melissa Etheridge.



The Philadelphia Daily Local News says,

"Her music has the swagger of 'Let it Bleed' era Rolling Stones. Her singing has the raw emotional power of Janis Joplin. Her songwriting places her among the top new musical storytellers."



Essence Magazine said,

�She sings with raw intensity, ranging from beautifully tender to howling, not even caring if her powerful voice cracks�this Jersey girl who names Led Zeppelin and Tina Turner as influences confirms that rock is Black Music too.�



World Cafe Live also chimes in,

"What if Janis Joplin was Black and beautiful? Because Black isn�t always soul, blues, or gospel. Listening to Danielia Cotton, you�re bound to believe: Black is rock and roll."



From her bio she says that her early influences were AC/DC, Judas Priest and Todd Rundgren. She also mentions her mother who was a gifted jazz singer and the gospel music at church as influences. She's played all the big local clubs in NYC and has shared the stage with Living Color, Sister Hazel and others. Her debut album, "Small White Town" is aptly titled. She grew up in rural Hopewell, NJ. She ended up being the only one of 7 black kids in her high school.



Her big break is coming, that I know.



If you like Rock and Blues, you have got to give her a listen. You will be impressed. I'll stake my talent searching reputation on it!



"You're the devil in disguise and the last thing you're gonna see is my-my-my backside."