Description
Hailing from a small town outside Bristol in the UK, Yola Carter grew up in poverty with an unsupportive parent who banned her from making music. She also experienced stress-induced voice loss and being literally engulfed in flames in a house fire, which inspired the album’s title. From living homeless on the streets of London, Yola fought on, eventually joining British band Massive Attack, opening for James Brown (who once told her “soul’s a thing, and you got it!”) and now to Dan Auerbach’s recording studio in Nashville.
Recorded with a team of the city’s best session musicians, the record chronicles the personal and artistic rebirth that Yola has undergone over the past few years. A remarkable album, it sweeps up stunning arrangements, well-crafted songwriting and masterful session playing, with Yola’s commanding and glorious vocal presence to give us one of the great musical joys of the year. It stands proudly beside some of the classic releases from Aretha Franklin and Dusty Springfield, with classic soul, roots, country and rock influences. More than anything, the 12 songs on Walk Through Fire show the scope of styles, sounds, genres and influences that Quartey has been soaking in throughout all the left-turns, setbacks, and quiet triumphs in her still-unproven musical career.
