It’s not everyday that you come across a singer that refers to themselves with a superlative such as ‘phenomenal’. It tends to actualise the extra pressure that would have only been imagined in the artists’ perfectionist mind. And Ruthie Foster acknowledges, that she has some big shoes to fill, as some previous artists to do similar have included Johnny Cash (1958’s The Fabulous Johnny Cash) and Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin (1962’s The Electrifying Aretha Franklin).

“Those are some big shoes!” laughs Ruthie Foster, who, by all intents and purposes appears to be one of the most humble and down-to-earth artists you could ever meet, phenomenal or otherwise. She admits to initially having “quite a few reservations” about calling her fifth album The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster, crediting both her producer, and her label, for making that particular gutsy call. You have to listen to the album to realise how they came up with it, suffice to say the shoes fit just right.

If you haven’t yet been introduced to the music of this prodigiously gifted singer and songwriter from Texas, you’re in for a major epiphany. And if you’ve been following Foster’s career ever since her self-released, 1997 debut, Full Circle, or even since her 2002 breakthrough, Runaway Soul, you’re in for an even bigger surprise, because you really haven’t ever heard Foster until you hear her now.

All her records carried considerable critical acclaim, too, especially her last two, Runaway Soul and the live Stages. Both live and on disc, Foster mixed contemporary folk with old-school gospel and blues with dazzling efficiency, showcasing a powerhouse voice that drew favorable comparisons to the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin.

There are traces of that Foster on her new album — most notably in the rootsy fun of “Beaver Creek Blues,” the gospel revival spirit of “Mama Said” and the dark, stomping a cappella thunder of the Son House cover “People Grinnin’ In your Face.” Additionally however, together with a fantastic band including drummer George Sluppick (Mofro), bassist Glenn Fukunaga (Dixie Chicks, Terri Hendrix) and Hammond B3 player Anthony Farrell (Greyhounds), they set out to make an honest to goodness classic soul album.

“A lot of folks don’t know this, but that really is my background,” says Foster. “I come from a deep background of old soul and blues and even R&B. Early on, long before I ever got into the folk thing, I was doing more soul on acoustic guitar than anything else. And that’s always been a part of the sound that I have.”

“This CD,” she says, “is what happens when all the elements come together and you just get out of the way and let the groove go, you know? I learned a lot about just getting out of my own way.”

That goes for the subject matter, too, with Foster originals like “Harder Than the Fall” and “I Don’t Know What to Do With My Heart” revealing a level of personal vulnerability that she’d previously shied away from sharing.

“This record’s all about what I’ve been through these last couple of years here, and then some. There was a lot of emotional stuff left over from all that that I’d been carrying around with me, and I managed to write a few songs and find a few songs from other people that really say it all. But that kind of had me holding back on the whole project, because it’s hard to put your life into a record like that and really expose yourself. ‘Harder Than the Fall’ was about my last relationship, and ‘I Don’t Know What to Do With My Heart’ was about a relationship before that. You’re not so sure you want people to be able to see your vulnerability like that, but in the end it’s necessary, because that’s how you get past those things. And, by putting these songs on the record, it’s kind of a way of letting them go out and heal somebody else out there who may need to hear them.”

After the healing comes empowerment, which brings us to what is arguably The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster’s most powerful statement: “Phenomenal Woman,” a poem by Dr. Maya Angelou originally set to music by Canadian artist Amy Sky and David Pickell.

“I’ve got a lot to say and a lot to share, and I’m going to keep doing it through music. And the message in ‘Phenomenal Woman’ — I think every woman should feel that.”
he pauses, then adds with a laugh, “I think every man should feel that, too!”

Probably the best song of the album for me, is Heal Yourself, a funky, groove train sound with empowering lyrics to boot. The Phenominal Ruthie Foster however, is an album for all soul music fans alike, no matter what your mood. Perfect for a picnic in the park, or a wine while relaxing on the couch with a good book, Ruthie Foster will work her way into your mind, and ultimately, your heart.

Ruthie is touring Australia in March. For tour information, click here

Tags: Lesbian, Ruthie Foster