Asa (pronounced “Asha”) Smith’s lovely voice on Beautiful Imperfection (Naive Records) proves she’s a singer with a difference. She adds her own lyrical coloration layer to soul, & does it sweetly.  Smith displays a vocal intuition and wisdom in a minimalist approach to self-expression that gives her voice all the more intensity for slightly scaling it back. Smith’s songwriting is a series of rolling stills of epiphanic thoughts that are as likely to occur while on line at the post office as they are when you’re looking for a breakthrough. “Ok Ok”  is a melancholy-to-hopeful echo-effect infused ballad about enjoying life while you can  because it won’t last forever, while also knowing the pain of losing won’t last forever either. Her lyrics stand out because they so closely echo the reflective conversations people have with themselves.

This African Tribal soul songstress possesses a majestic scholarly delivery. “Be My Man” is set against a jazzy 1960′s bossa nova backdrop. She has a lightness of tone that can summon up fellow Nigerian native Sade’s style. Sweetness combined with an observant eye and playfulness keeps the album from wandering into the overly saccharine.  “Baby Gone” is a sunny yet plaintive melody about how the discomfort of being desired can cause the whole thing to come crashing down. “I thought your love was strange.”

There is a touch of the sad woman reverting to a little girl here–you can almost see a young Smith  in her pink pajamas with feet holding out a teddy bear as a peace offering. “The Way I Feel” is a drawling, retro,  luxuriously slow jam where Smith asks “Am I first to break the silence, is that a crime?”  Smith’s approach is intense but has a touching gentleness. She approaches, addresses, suffers, and solves her problems through words and songs- the definition of a progressive artist. This elegant, natural singer – although not yet 30 years old – sounds like she was born to stand before a 1940s big metal microphone and emote.

Asa – Ok Ok by asaofficial
Asa – Why Can’t We by asaofficial

Asa – Bamidele by asaofficial

As a bonus, here’s her acoustic cover of Beautiful Imperfection‘s “Preacher Man.” No, it doesn’t have any relation to the American R&B classic. But it just might be better:

Asa – Preacher Man (Acoustic) by asaofficial