Soul singing has become an increasingly fraught vocation; the Brit revivalists are cracked out or allegedly boinking for tracks and the run of the mills mask their mediocrity with Auto-Tune, designer beats and chest-popping choreography. But as Barry O and India.Arie remind me, there's hope. Moments of brilliance lurk in overembedded corners of MySpace, the low rent live circuit, DIY labels and occasionally a major label worth their weight in surplus jewel cases. I've recently been intrigued with Seattle-based soul singer Choklate. Her full-bodied voice, laid back melodies and judicious storytelling recall Jill Scott and Georgia Anne Muldrow. Check "Now What" on Choklate's MySpace page for a sample or if you're in the New York area, stop by the Highline Ballroom Saturday night when she opens for the inimitable Bilal. I caught up with Choklate via e-mail as she prepped for the Highline show and a number of Southern dates, including SXSW, after which she'll return to Seattle to record a follow up to her eponymous 2006 release.
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