Megan Livingston Introduces Us To 'Black Beckee'


"Look at me sitting on my knees, you look like you might kill me. I'll do anything to please."

This line from the Megan Livingston song "The Apologetic Album" is an eerie opening to a song that could possibly be about an abusive relationship but much more likely to be about a suicide taken place after the writing of an apology letter. Deep stuff, but that's just my interpretation of this song off of Livingston's new CD Black Beckee. This entire record is like some of the best poetry--moody, filled with metaphor and open to interpretation.

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It is like songbird Megan has taken some of the best elements of music over the decades and woven their qualities into her new release Black Beckee, released independently on Ankh Ba Records and produced with artistic flair by instrumentalist Thur Deephry. They have both marked each song with lush Jazz spirals and unique use of key and song structure. Megan's vocals channel the Jazz era in "Heart Blue" while her first single, "I Am the One," is a marvelous song of rejection that is prettily sung with the energy reminiscent of early work from Neo-Soul innovators Badu and Larrieux. This tune is almost blinding you to its melancholy message with its pitch perfect vocals and beautiful music.

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While elements of yesteryear are definitely incorporated, this album could win an award for its futuristic approach that often strays from conventional song structure. Listening to her CD, you may make comparisons to J*DaVeY or Sy Smith at first, but Megan Livingston's uniqueness lies in her almost addictive use of avant garde song structure and musicality that stretches and contorts notes to create conversations that are rarely discussed through music this creatively. "To Thee," an ode to African heritage is most representative of this sentiment ( "...It's not Egyptian, it's Kemetic") as does "Sex Boogie" with its uptempo Jazz teasings and accompanying lyrics about sexual give and take.

Megan Livingston is, by far, one of the most eclectic vocalists breaking onto the scene. This album will be happily received by those who are connoisseurs of a musical experience that is unpredictable and daring. However, there is a risk that the inability to label her sound may make it harder for more conventional Soul music lovers to digest. For, the fact is, this is most definitely not your mama's brand of Soul.

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Megan Livingston: "Mind Of Mind"

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Megan Livingston: "Amentet"

Megan Livingston Black Beckee [iTunes]

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