Phlo Finister’s Purr: Singer’s music seduces us in 2013

Courtesy of YouTube

 

Some brilliant rookies command attention like veterans; at the list’s top is R & B’s Poster Girl, Phlo Finister.

 

The Oakland, CA-born, Los Angeles bred chanteuse is a viral sensation. She pervades YouTube, with videos showcasing gritty, smoldering songs. She brings saucy lyrics, silk-smooth vocals and a haunting delivery, especially on 2011’s Crown Gold LP.

 

The record proves that Finister is a musical maverick - the kind that is so bold she can creatively tackle covers. Flooding your ears is a dynamically-twisted version of Tupac’s “Hail Mary.” She adorns the dark track with a raspy-smooth voice, and palpable lyrics stalking your attention. At several points, lines like “I will sell my soul for you” and “I will cry for you” catch your ear. The lyrics are spellbinding. 

 

Another track, “Bang Bang” shows off her intrepid musical tastes. She croons on  the raw-sounding track  popularized in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill movies. At times, her soft vocals flow like water.

 

She brings that same smooth edge to the Poster Girl LP, slow-burning since late last year. It shows off a woman driving in the fast lane, sidetracked by seductive trappings. In “Hotel Miami,” 21-year-old Finister talks about a sex-charged rendezvous over a hypnotizing beat. The song is enamoring.

 

Behind the music lies an edgy-styled songbird. Finister has a made-for-the catwalk frame: leggy and sleek. She dresses it up with leather, a nose ring and behind-the-ear tattoo. It all makes for an alluring aesthetic; however, it is an image curveball since she resembles a model. 

 

Looking at the grand picture, she is a thrilling talent. Check it out!

 

 

 

By Clarissa Hamlin