First Listen: Jennie DeVoe sings "You Belong To Me"

Share this article

    Jennie DeVoe has earned the reputation as one of the Midwest's best kept secrets, garnering national raves and reviews for her records and live performances.  Her 5th indie studio record shows that she's having fun, has no style limits or plans on repeating herself - yet her voice remains the common expressive thread throughout her stand-out work. 

    She has come to be known for her unique style and fierce  independence when it comes to her music. With the release of her new record  RADIATOR ...The Bristol Sessions, she does not disappoint. Through her grassroots legion of fans, Jennie financed her latest record with a hugely successful fan-based Kickstarter campaign that exceeded expectations by 300% in less than 35 days.

    Radiator is an eclectic mix of songs woven together by Jennie's soulful, gospel-tinged voice - all laid out on a bed of the rich musical sounds of tremolo guitars, melodic in-the-pocket bass lines, fat UK drum grooves and haunting mellotron string layers.  With the icing and gospel sounds of Hammond B3 that glue the songs together, you can feel the heart and soul moments of this very unique and vulnerable record.

    The song "You Belong To Me" was originally written by Jennie on keys. It is a timeless reflection of a girl declaring her love and her vulnerability as she sings to her 'Romeo' plea-fully telling him why she's the girl for him. Written in the Stax tradition with a pulsing piano, plate reverb echos and retro-backing vocals sung by Jennie's British engineer, producer and bass player -  Jennie declares, "we'll break into that heart of yours made of concrete and stone..... you belong to me..... it ain't no big mystery ..... you are my destiny .. you belong to me."  The track is simple, clean, vulnerable, fun with a fat retro throw-back melodic guitar solo.  You Belong To Me comes along at a time when audiences of all ages simply crave good songs with great melodies that they can sing along to and relate to. There's a little bit of Etta James and Aretha Franklin in Jennie's deliveries along with some of the same influences that have influenced Amy Winehouse and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. DeVoe satisfies the listener's desire for meaningful lyrics and memorable melodies that is believable because they are being sung by Jennie herself, who wrote the songs. This whole record and this song are a true journey that would be at home on the radio in 1967 or today. DeVoe is sure to please music lovers across the board from Soul to Blues to Americana - she's an American Soul singer with something to say.

    Check out our newest First Listen: Jennie DeVoe's "You Belong to Me"

    .