Cladding a flowing white dress, complimented with a huge yellow flower gently tucked behind the ear, an outfit designed by mother Joyce Simpson, Arie causally floats to the stage during her band’s instrumental intro at Friday’s Los Angeles performance. Confident and enthusiastic with a touch of sincerity and modesty, this 26-year-old singer, songwriter and musician is clearly more than just the average girl in a video.
Performing tracks such as “Little Things” and “Slow Down” from her latest acoustic offering, “Voyage to India,” which follows the same successful formula of her debut project, Arie offers words of wisdom and courage with warm and forceful soul soothers.
“Talk to Her” her fourth song, stresses the importance of honesty, warmth, and communication in relationships a track readily welcomed by her adoring female fans. Throwing in a classic acoustic version of Minnie Ripperton’s “Loving You” and Sade’s “Sweetest Taboo” further delights her faithful followers who swooned, swayed and saluted this spiritual performer.
In a two hour set Arie touches on “Video” and “Brown Skin”, singles from last year’s double platinum debut album, “Acoustic Soul.”
Her ability to whip the doting fans into frenzy reaches fever point with “Intro,” a track, which pays homage to the great musicians of the past who have paved the way for her career, such as Stevie Wonder, Patti Labelle and many others whom she states “Have come before me.”
Chatting causally between tracks Arie’s self-assured manner and spiritualism are apparent in her delivery. “Spirit knows no color, you’re either a lover or a hater.” Arie proclaims in “India’s Song,” a haunting reflection on slavery. In a relentless pursuit for perfection and musical integrity she invites the audience to indulge and “Sing along if you know it so we can breath.”
This musician seems to feel the warmth of her fans and stresses the importance of their connection throughout the evening as she ends with “Ready For Love.”
Evocative yet raw, Arie is much more than just another face in this neo-soul scene.
Clearly she is a performer who pairs sassy spiritual lyrics with strong vocals in a laid back sophisticated manner and made a perfect selection inviting the British funky divas Floetry and the rich musical tapestry of Detroit based group Slum Village as musical introductions for a show which yielded very pleasing results.
