How do music stars become stars? Why is it that some talented singers never rise to the top of the charts while other, less talented artists go on to become household names? These are some of the questions that may pop in your head while listening to the music on Dionyza Sutton's debut album, Quite Like Me, released independently in the U.S. on Dec. 23, 2008. Despite having a voice that's better than a handful of women on the charts right now, Dionyza is still a relatively unknown artist. Which is a shame, since Dionyza (pronounced Dee-on-cha) is definitely a young artist whose star deserves to shine more brightly.
The Complete Package
The record industry being what it is, when it comes to female singers, music execs sometimes don't look for talent as much as they do for other things, like a pretty face, great figure or great personality. But Dionyza's actually got the complete package. And she even comes from a music industry family: her parents, Brenda and Michael Sutton, were singers/songwriters for Motown Records back during its heyday. And as a nod to her folks, on her song
"I Told Myself," Dionyza samples a song her parents wrote, "Sunrise," which was recorded by The Originals in the 1970s. (The song was also previously sampled by Kanye West for the Scarface/Jay-Z song "Guess Who's Back.")
"I Told Myself," if released by a major label, would definitely have been a radio hit: it's got the entire required formula, including a catchy, often-repeated chorus; a pleasant familiar beat; and some simple, sweetly sung lyrics. But although "I Told Myself" is the album's most hit-worthy track, there's plenty of other good material here, including the pop-y, upbeat title track, the sultry "Give It to Me," and the sassy dance track "Stir It Up."
If there's a weakness to the album, it's that Dionyza's voice isn't fully refined yet; on some songs she sounds grown, but on others, she's seems like a teenage girl acting like an adult. Also, her vocal range is limited. But when it comes to all-around talent, Dionyza's comparable to some of R&B's better-known one-named singers, including Ashanti, Amerie and Mya. For an independent release without many big-name, overpriced producers on it, this album's a major success.
