Lydia Persaud - Moody31 [CD]

Lydia Persaud brings a full spectrum of emotional complexity to her rare blend of folk-and-jazz-infused soul. An accomplished songwriter and sought-after collaborator, Persaud released her solo debut, "Let Me in Show You" in 2019. Her upcoming 2022 album, "Moody31", unrolls a portrait of longing, romance, loss, and connection, fueled by the Toronto-based singer's undeniably sultry voice. After casually demoing songs for over a year, Moody31 coalesced in November of 2020 at Safe Spaceship Records in Toronto with collaborator Scott McCannell. 'Scott and I shared the same desire to create something new while preserving the classic warmth of the 70s soul and jazz sounds we love.' Persaud's voice is rich and silvery on 'Good For Us,' gliding over Christine Bougie's whispery guitar lines. 'I Got You' has a breezy sensuality, while 'Words for Her' is fraught with the anticipation of saying 'I love you' for the first time in a blossoming romance. The title track is daring - and surprisingly - stripped-down: an instrumental featuring diminished and major 7"s that fall alongside gently lush yet anguished vocals. On each song, Persaud delivers a steady emotional build that manages both smooth melody and ardent catharsis. The record explores therapy culture, boundaries, and the creation and dissolution of various intimacies. While the music harkens back, Persaud's honeyed vocals and inward-facing storytelling are immediate and fresh. 'Music has been my life for 10 years. It's only now that I feel as though I can begin to recount the past and bring my experiences into what I'm doing now. I hope Moody31 celebrates and validates the human experience in all its contradictions: how new love can be experienced alongside deep loss, how one can crave solitude and connection, simultaneously. It's beautiful to embrace all of our moods - it's living.'