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Heather Victoria Shines on Soul-Stirring ‘Boutique Hotel’ | Album Review

October 28, 2019 Daryl McIntosh

Heather Victoria
Boutique Hotel
Jamla
Buy Here | Listen Below

My favorite part of vacationing is the surprises you get when canvassing small towns and cities across America. After visiting the recommended points of interest that I’ve scouted online, I always find a tucked-away gem that truly reveals the character of the place I’ve chosen for my getaway. Like the vintage wine cellar outside of Portland, Oregon, the family-owned soul food diner in Charleston, South Carolina, or the two-story, used book store in Ithaca, New York.  These small treasures authenticate the entire experience and endure as the most memorable recollections from my journey.

Fortunately, I experienced this sensation musically when I veered off for a quick escape in the middle of a busy work week, delving into Heather Victoria’s new LP Boutique Hotel, which shouldn’t have come as a surprise since the Jamla Records stamp—a surefire symbol of quality—was visible on the album cover. The label’s founder 9th Wonder has spent the last two decades solidifying his brand and adding to his reputation of associating with top-tier artists. A stellar showcase for one of the label’s newest proteges, Boutique Hotel finds Jamla positioning Heather Victoria as a potential marquee voice of their talented roster.

The album opens with “Japan,” which also featured on the 2018 label compilation 9th Wonder Presents: Jamla is the Squad 2. The smooth collaboration with the Gavin Quintet offers the perfect musical backdrop for Victoria’s teasingly seductive vocals, which she delivers with a cadence reminiscent of 1980s baby-making anthems like Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love.”

“Big Momma” reunites Victoria with frequent Jamla collaborator Big K.R.I.T. for a soulful introspection that revisits African-American oral traditions. The song cleverly chronicles modern-day life steering using the advice one receives from matriarchal figures, told through the contemporary urban lexicon.  

Boutique Hotel continues to entertain as the next door opens to “Didn’t Ya Know”, possibly an ode to Erykah Badu who had a similarly titled song on her Y2K sophomore LP Mama’s Gun. Whatever inspired the song title, Victoria’s vocals linger on the palate, revealing its full-bodied texture, and ability to soar above a tempestuous narrative.  

“One Love” also stands out as Victoria continues to command attention on the Gavin Quintet’s masterful instrumental interpolation of The Heath Brothers’ “Smilin’ Billy Suite Pt. 2,” which was famously sampled by A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip for Nas’ 1994 single bearing the same name, for his classic debut LP Illmatic.   

The short LP finishes with two duets featuring veteran vocalist Raheem DeVaughn, where Victoria delivers impressive performances alongside her already renowned counterpart on both songs.

Take a survey of the contemporary R&B scene and other names may quickly emerge as featured attractions. But a more intimate tour of the landscape will reveal this seemingly unassuming package of grandeur in the form of Boutique Hotel, which introduces the concept of no-frill-chic to its musical genre.    

Presenting an album that doesn’t contain a single hiccup this early in her career certainly establishes Heather Victoria as an artist to look out for heading into the next decade. And in the meantime, Boutique Hotel has been one of my favorite getaways for 2019.

Notable Tracks: "Big Momma" | “Didn’t Ya Know” | "One Love"

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In REVIEW Tags Heather Victoria
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