Coloured by Priscilla Renea

Topping the list of my favorite albums of 2018 is "Coloured" by Priscilla Renea.

     Priscilla Renea’s sophomore album, Coloured, is a truly special album that comes a decade after her debut. It combines elements of  Country, R&B, Hip Hop, and Pop into a unique and potent blend. In interviews, Renea described the album as a labor of love. She co-wrote every track, produced two tracks and co-produced a third; she also recalls singing the note she wanted the musicians to play. The title “Coloured” is a nod to the fact that it is fairly unheard of to have a black artist make Country music - something that Renea wishes to do her part to change.

     Anyone familiar with Renea’s songwriting resume is unsurprised by the quality of the songcraft. The singer/songwriter spent the ten years between albums writing for industry heavyweights such as Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Demi Lovato, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Miranda Lambert, and many more.

My favorite tracks on the album include the singles ‘Gentle Hands’ and ‘Heavenly’ and ‘Let’s Build a House’, and ‘Family Tree’. ‘Gentle Hands’ is a plea to God to bring her a “big strong man with gentle hands”. She lists other characteristics that she would love him to have such as loving sweet tea and wearing Timberland boots.
   
     ‘Heavenly’ is the most R&B sounding track on the album with Renea’s beautiful soaring vocals backed by a piano and some finger snaps. The track serves as a follow-up to ‘Gentle Hands’ because the singer has found her man and declares “this love is heavenly”.

     ‘Let’s Build a House’ is about partnering with someone through thick and thin using the building of a house as a metaphor. In one of the most clever lines on the album she sings “let’s use the stones that everyone’s thrown. We need a sanctuary of our own. Let’s build a house.”

     ‘Family Tree’ is a very blunt Country/Folk song about Renea’s upbringing. She sings “all my aunties and my uncles too said she’ll be back and pregnant on her own in a month or two.” The song contains skillfully sung runs and shows off the singer’s range.

     "Coloured" is absent from most people's end of 2018 lists but it's definitely worth a listen or two. Let me know what you think of the album and which tracks are your favorite in the comments. Thanks for reading!