(January 23, 2022) For years, discriminating listeners of contemporary soul have had to sift through what charted as love songs, yet felt like anything but: a vulgarity here, a body part there, or simply a case study of Simulating Intercourse to Music 101. Those who are old enough to remember when singers were more subtle than sexual will detect that welcomed approach in Trusoul Davis’s latest single, “Impressions (DJ Mystique Remix).”
A Cleveland, OH. native, Davis has been honing his sound in choir stands and behind the boards, building up his fanbase and Amazon R&B chart presence with his well-received project, The Tru Experience. The danceable mid-tempo, which includes a well-rendered cameo verse by rapper Queen Kee, describes the first fluttery moments that one feels when they encounter a possible new love: “Getting myself together so whenever we should speak, I wanna make sure when we do this girl, I’m saying the right thing/Can’t describe this funny feeling Girl that’s got ahold of me, I don’t wanna come of cliche baby, but I see you in my dreams.“
Influenced by both new-school and traditional soul men (Usher, Luther Vandross), Truesoul’s artistry will take him from out of the peripheral and into the spotlight in due time: catchy enough to stand out, classy enough to widen his appeal in all the right circles. Like the old slogan once said, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” and Davis’ new groove is a worthy place to start.
By Melody Charles
