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Esnavi is one of those underground gems who truly defines what it means to be a "sleeper" hit artist. With Exit E acting as a pseudo debut release (she actually completed an album in 2005 that didn't see a label release), Esnavi is on the brink of establishing herself as an indie powerhouse. Her voice is just as comfortable energizing a club or dance number as it is on a sultry acoustic one -- she has the versatility, energy and emotion to not be typecast into one particular style of music. The Milwaukee native has already made a name for herself on the international scene by reaching the International Top 40 list and is sure to see herself on more lists in the near future.
Esnavi is one of those underground gems who truly defines what it means to be a "sleeper" hit artist. With Exit E acting as a pseudo debut release (she actually completed an album in 2005 that didn't see a label release), Esnavi is on the brink of establishing herself as an indie powerhouse. Her voice is just as comfortable energizing a club or dance number as it is on a sultry acoustic one -- she has the versatility, energy and emotion to not be typecast into one particular style of music. The Milwaukee native has already made a name for herself on the international scene by reaching the International Top 40 list and is sure to see herself on more lists in the near future.
Calling Exit E "futuristic soul," Esnavi comes across as a blend between the styles of Keri Hilson and Tweet. Many of her songs (produced by Michael Kunz) feature a lyrically empowering acoustic guitar element that forces the listener to be touched by her undeniable vocal strength. Though her voice isn't quite as soft as Tweet, her beautifully trained sound soothes. This benefits her since she typically takes these acoustic numbers to a crescendo of synthesized power.
"Waterflows" is a perfect example of this mold as it begins ever so gently before launching into a whirlwind with blistering drums and a synth electric guitar solo. "I'm Here" follows a similar pattern but manages to keep its soothing and sultry mood throughout, as a beautiful piano solo accompanies the introduction of a drum machine into an otherwise acoustic track. Thankfully the percussion doesn't take away or drown out the beauty of Esnavi's voice or the lovely piano work.
Though her high energy dance tracks such as "Two Worlds," "Ding Ding" and "What U Need" would seem to be a bit out of place with such a plethora of soulful and mellow songs, they manage to fit the mood the album is reaching for. Esnavi's vivacious presence on each song is the glue that binds these somewhat disparate styles together. She exerts her will soulfully in each and every song, providing a consistency that works beautifully throughout the different tempos seen in this 16 song effort.
Esnavi, which apparently stands for Eclectic, Soulful, Natural, Authentic, Vivacious, and Intriguing, has left us with a truly buzzworthy effort with Exit E.
By B. J. Bunneh Brown