Despite being a talented singer-songwriter-entrepreneur who's released four albums from 2002-2008, Cleveland-based Conya Doss remains unknown to many R&B fans. Why? Because she's never been on a major record label. But despite her lack of fame and mainstream acceptance, Conya keeps releasing good independent music, and doing it on her own terms. Her latest album, Still, which was released April 1, 2008, is a pleasant, mature and intelligent work of art that's a little short on catchy, radio-friendly ditties that instantly get stuck in your head, but is long on sensual, sophisticated songs for the over-30 crowd.
Independent Woman, Pt. 4
At the very least, Conya Doss deserves props for her staying power. While other artists similar to her in ability have flipped from record label to record label over the course of their careers, Conya's maintained a DIY (Do It Yourself) ethic for years. All four of her albums, including her most recent,
Still (which was released April 1, 2008), have come out on indie labels. Her last three, in fact were released by Conya Doss Songs Inc., which makes her an independent woman in at least two senses of the term.
Still is her fourth album overall, and it continues her tradition of intelligent songwriting and elegant vocals. Among the album's best tracks: the opening song, Common Ground, which about a couple that's at a crossroads in their relationship and needs to compromise or go their separate ways; "Something 2Nite," about a woman tired of sitting home with her man all the time and wants him to take her out and have some fun; and "What I'd Do," which is about loving someone so much that you'd be willing to anything for them, including lie, swallow your pride, risk your pride and give up your freedom.
Another gem is "It's Over," handclap-driven head-nodder about sending a lover packing:
"I've had it up to here, it's over, I've had enough," she sings.
But never on the song - or any of the others that deal with the negatives of life - does Conya come off bitter or sad or angry. Her vocals are animated, but at the same time detached. And although that cool demeanor is great for the real world, sometimes you really want her to cut loose and lose control at least once on a song.
