Search - Ayiesha Woods :: Introducing Ayiesha Woods

CCM's New Listening Experience

Pirouette | 12/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Now that Out of Eden has retired and signed off as Gotee Records leading ladies and Jennifer Knapp has disappeared into oblivion, newcomer Ayiesha Woods has stepped in to fill the void of the black CCM, soulful, alterna-pop princess. Although Introducing Ayiesha Woods is her debut on Gotee Records, Woods is no a stranger to the music industry. In 2004, she became the first female to walk away with the "Producer of the Year" award from the Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards. That year she also received the Marlin Awards' "New Artist of the Year" and "Contemporary Vocal Performance of the Year (Female)". Production credits include the likes of Chris Stevens (noted for his work with Toby Mac, Shawn McDonald, Paul Wright) Otto Price (noted for his work with Barlow Girl, Out of Eden, Grits), Ric Robbins (Grits, Out of Eden) and David Mullen (noted for his work with wife Nicole C. Mullen).



Woods's geographic history is as diverse as her music style. She was born in Long Island, New York but spent much of her childhood in Bermuda. She has also lived in many different locales, including Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, and Texas.



It's nice to see a sistah step outside the box and sing something other than gospel proper with over-the-top runs, riffs, and vibratos. Woods has a smooth, yet gritty voice reminiscent of India.Arie and Amy Grant mixed together. I like the "organic" angle of this effort from the acoustic guitar to the rocking electric. Woods's husky alto emotes simplicity; she doesn't push the soprano, but stays in her rich and textured range. Opener "Happy" has a John Mellancamp vibe (think "Hurts So Good") and songs like "The Remedy," "Big Enough," and "Get To You" convey the need for believers to recognize God's sovereignty and our inability to ultimately control our lives.



"Crazy" is a frenetic, reggae-styled number that asserts Woods's intentions of living out God's Word no matter what people think of her or how they treat her. I usually don't like reggae-styled music, but this one works as Woods convincingly gives us some dancehall and Caribbean flava. Also, "The Only One" is a very strong track, and the only R&B track at that, featuring guest vocals from Jason Eskridge. The beat is sick, the lyrics and live instruments are on point, and the message about finding God-ordained love resonates deeply.



Sometimes the momentum of the music propels Woods's intentions into triteness, inadvertently stripping some of the substance from her songs. Case in point is "What You Do To Me," which speaks of the goodness of God's love in the wonderfully moody verses, but then fizzles with a bland chorus stating, "I'm in love with You." And some of the songs sonically run together as to be indistinguishable and ultimately forgettable.



However, this debut is strong overall, the songwriting is honest and heartfelt, and the insightful lyrics reflect one who takes her walk with God seriously and open transparency.

"

Fresh, eclectic new Gotee artist

Tracy Darlington | 07/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Growing up in Bermuda, Ayiesha Woods never dreamed of being discovered by TobyMac. After hearing her song "Crazy" on the radio while he was vacationing in Jamaica, Toby quickly found her contact information and called her. 27-year-old Ayiesha says, "I wasn't home when he first called. I was in disbelief; I couldn't believe it was him!" Although caught off-guard by the prospect of working with Toby, she knew this was the exact direction God was calling her: to bring her own brand of diversity, quality and purpose into music.



Introducing... has way more heft and depth than your average debut album. The cuts are anything but repetitive, and you can feel the unique urban sound in her music. Upon each progressive track, Ayiesha transcends a broad spectrum of musical styles, making it tough to find a central theme, unless the theme is skillful versatility. For example, she reminds me a little of Nicole C. Mullen in "Crazy," an upbeat, Caribbean hip-hop number. "I Don't Mind," which was written as an encouragement to her mom to let her know God cares for her, has an Aretha Franklin flavor to it. Beyonce Knowles might even come to mind in a few songs.



Ayiesha wrote "The Only One" for a wedding where she was the surprise guest. The bride loved her music, and her performance of this song was a gift from the groom. She was more than happy to be asked, and she can't wait for the newlyweds to hear it on this album. Tobymac's signature vocals back up "Big Enough," a song that reminds us how great God is. And then there is Ayiesha's first radio single "Happy" which is hitting the airwaves and taking off across the country. This song has a catchy pop/country sound, with a little of the vocal chops of Melissa Etheridge.



I can already see Ayiesha becoming a stand out name in Christian music. Listeners will not be disappointed with this album and will surely flock to buy her next. It's a winning total package that I keep playing over and over again. Positive, top-notch quality. Now get in the car, crank up the volume, and get ready to groove.



--Reviewed by Tracy Darlington for Infuze magazine"

Awesome

Roberta L. Youngman | Rochester, NY | 05/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heard "Remedy" once on the radio and went right to I-tunes and listened to more of her album. I love her voice, music and style. I'm sold."