Fly Away Home Sonya Kitchell Cold Day (Velour Music- 2004 ) by Fridae Mattas A mind full of nothing, the T.V. is blaring, reports about the demise of Jetsgo, the airline where I was previously employed. Last Friday, Last Flight, and I am sick of hearing it, sick of being reminded of what was and no longer is. I shut off the TV, curl up to my computer, and begin listening to Cold Day. Click On Album Cover To Purchase From Amazon.com >>>

Immediately, the voice emanating from my small speakers puts me in a tranquil state. This is just what I needed. The first thing I notice about the freshman release from Velour Music’s fifteen year old impressionario Sonya Kitchell is a voice ripe with maturity. So evolved, this voice possesses a unique aura. Equal shades of Ella Fitzgerald, Norah Jones and Joss Stone, Sonya also reminds me of Canadian singer Ivana Santilli. It seems as though she utilizes her talents very well, as she has penned all of the tracks on the EP.

The album as a whole transports you to some far off place, plopping you down on a beachfront hammock for a relaxing day by the water. Particularly mellifluous to my ear was “Clara,” a haunting reminder of Ms. Fitzgerald in her formative years. Rounding out the song with a trio of piano, bass and percussion, Kitchell’s purest Jazz ballad on this versatile collection exudes soft-spoken simplicity.

“Fly Away,” with more of an upbeat jazzy-march vibe, had me completely and utterly taken. The instrumentation of this particular song feels like a musical explosion and adds unique and original flavor to the album. Cold Day, Sonya’s first single, might even be something you would hear on the O.C, a languid pop ballad sure to please.

If I had to find something on the album to complain about, I would have to say that they lyrical content just does not match quality with Sonya’s vocal prowess. I have trouble believing the sincerity of lines like, “Anytime I’m feeling down or blue (honey), all I’ve got to do is think about you,” (Think of You). Following the classic songwriting stereotype, "The words must rhyme as the lines of a poem," Think of You simply could have been written by anyone. At fifteen, most girls haven’t experienced first-hand the tribulation that leads more mature songwriters to express in their lyrics heart-felt emotion. Give Sonya a couple of years, and you can be sure that she will develop a unique lyrical voice centered on true life lessons.

What's great about Sonya is that she has sincere talent. Cold Day is not based on a gimmick; it is a far cry from the market-tested corporate drivel foisted upon the masses by the conglomerates. Sonya Kitchell represents openness and independence, giving young girls, who might be tempted to worship a Lindsay Lohan-esque persona, a new role model. Sonya Kitchell may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but trying out new sounds opens your mind to new ideas. And using your brain is something that I recommend everyone try at least once.

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