(October 6, 2024) When breaking down N’Dambi’s fundamental artistic strength, she is a pure dreamer, guiding her innermost thoughts that adjust to her daily scenarios. In crafting her latest full-length, Dream Junkie, she states: “I don’t know life without them. Dreams have helped me navigate through my life experience. So…what a befitting title.”
N’Dambi also cites Nina Simone, for whom she dedicated “Ode 2 Nina” from Tunin Up Co-Signin. And the influence of Simone and others may help give context to the beautifully eclectic neo-soul capped with jazz, funk, electro frosted pop that permeates N’Dambi’s music.
Long waits between her album over the past two decades have resulted in one great release after another from the Dallas, Texas-based singer/songwriter, including her 2009 major label debut, Pink Elephant (Stax) and the 2018 E.P. Air Castle, teaming with All Cows Eat Grass frontman, T Bowman.
For the latest First Listen installment taken from Dream Junkie, “Follow Me” follows another of N’Dambi fascinating dreams under producer Madukwu Chinwah (Erykah Badu, Roger Troutman). Beside multi-instrumentalist Chinwah, the articulate horn support by Donald Hayes and Chris ‘Daddy’ Dave’s skipping drums and percussion shape a cool jazz enriched soundtrack. And N’Dambi’s thought process at times firmly shakes up the mind’s comfort zone: “Time and again as one day rolls into the next/I’m wondering where it’s all going/We are progressive making forwards progress/But we are dumber, not even knowing.”
All that remains to be said regarding “Follow Me” is keep dreaming N’Dambi. Take a listen!
By Peggy Oliver
