Shelita Burke
Transfixed
Independent Release, 2015
Shelita Burke, who claims Seattle as a her hometown, set out to do some serious hoofing, found herself on other continents, and sang for her supper along the way. While unable to speak to Ms. Burke’s ability prior to her journey, the artist who has emerged on the other end is nothing short of remarkable.
With a vulnerability and unexpectedly lithe delivery, Shelita Burke enters the realm of the ethereal artist, hard to define and hard to forget.
“Transfixed,” the title track, opens and closes this EP. A breezy, folk jazz rendition appears, uncluttered, allowing her voice to flutter effortlessly. As a bonus track it’s been remixed with an ambient electronic feel. The use of space here is laudable. It allows the songs to breathe effortlessly. All of her songs here have one word titles, keeping things simple and still a arms length. Vulnerable, exposed and unconcerned with what others might see as weakness, these are confident admissions of doubt.
With a delivery as light and deceptively tough as spider’s silk, Burke’s voice seems at once to be barely there and impossibly strong. The songs here are minimalist in arrangement and overwhelming for the bare emotion she conveys. The same fragility, which gives these compositions a yielding sensation, will snap back and be suddenly taut and immovable.
This is a compelling release. Shelita Burke seems to have more with to say, and is toying with listeners, offering silence when the disc ends, forcing the hand to press play once more.