Wednesday, Jul 02, 2008
written by Joe Goyette
What do you get when you combine the incredible melodies of Steve Dorff with the angelic voice of Carla Williams? You get magic! When Steve writes songs for you, one of two things are true. Either you are already one of the most successful artists in the business, or you are about to be one!
I found Carla Williams on Steve Dorff's page, and really loved her voice and the songs on the page, so I added her. I had a chance to go back and listen to her music more extensively last week and I found her performance of the songs to be powerful, emotional, and believable.
I'm partial to ballads, and Steve Dorff wrote the melody lines for the ballads on her page, so it's a given that they are going to be incredible. Steve has written for, arranged or produced the most legendary male and female vocalists of the last thirty years. The more up-tempo songs are also awesome.
If you know anything about me, you know that I never just say I like someone's music, I always say why. When they are singers, what I look for are songs that match their voice, vocal quality, and the emotional and soulful quality that you can feel.
Carla has an incredible set of pipes, no doubt. The songs she chose showcase her voice in a way that is exceptional. However, what I like most about a vocal performer is their ability to make you feel every word. If you recall previous blogs and posts, that is the quality that I like most about BJ Thomas and Alexa Ray Joel. You can feel Carla's heart in every note, and every word. When she sings, I believe her and really, that's what it is all about. She has an almost spiritual quality to her voice. She has her own sound, but reminds me of Amy Grant and Shania Twain.
I have never met Carla, but she strikes me as someone who would be comfortable singing on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, or in your living room, and she would sound just as good in either place. She demonstrates an extraordinary ability to connect her heartstrings to her vocal chords and deliver an emotional and inspirational sound. That is the mark of a great singer.
I'm sure we'll be hearing more from her in the near future, but I highly recommend checking out her music on her page and her fan club site. I'm going to be purchasing her CD for my wife and I. I love coming across people before they become famous and you still have the opportunity to interact with great talent. Once they hit big, madness sets in, and you cannot get near them.
