You Got My Attention

Artist: Dara Maclean
Label: Fervent Records
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Soulful and sassy, new Fervent Records artist Dara Maclean enters the music scene with a debut that’s both affecting and fun. Influences ranging from Adele and Ray LaMontagne to Natasha Beddingfield and early Motown make for a vibrant first major label offering full of energy and flair. From the first note of lead single and album opener “Suitcases,” the Ft. Worth, Texas native’s talent is obvious. Her sultry vocals combine with solid, relevant songwriting and the power close of Ian Eskelin (Francesca Battistelli, Stellar Kart) helming the production board to produce a debut that’s slick and distinctive. The collection of songs gathered on You Got My Attention exude a celebratory vibe, best experienced on a sunny summer day with the windows rolled down.

The title track is infectiously delightful with a Jackson 5 exuberance that’s refreshingly different. Other songs, such as the aforementioned ode to letting go of personal baggage (“Suitcases”), and the luminous “Nothin’ You Won’t Do” lean more pop but with an added dose of energy. The best pop selection comes mid-way through the album with “Free” – a song about embracing life unencumbered and fulfilling God-given dreams.

Maclean easily transitions from urban pop tracks to stirring acoustic ballads, which showcase the power of her vocals and the poignancy of her lyrics. The bouncy quirkiness of “What Love Looks Like” is amusing. However, the real acoustic treasure is found in “Yours Forever,” a worshipful, stripped down track with prayerful lyrics that are instantly identifiable for every believer: “Thank You for finding me when You did/You changed my life/And now I believe that love is all that I’ll ever need/I promise my heart and all that I am/I’m Yours forever, my love.”

“So Good to Me” shows off a soulful side of the newcomer with smoky vocals and a singable melody line. The album closes fittingly with “Home,” a tender, passionate ballad summing up Maclean’s allegiances – the simplicity of deeply rooted faith.

Lyrically, Maclean’s words are poetic, though not always deep, and at times ambiguous. Many songs could be interpreted to be written about God or a human relationship, while others stick to universal topics like love and grace. Musically, fans of Natalie Grant, Francesca Battistelli and Crystal Lewis (who Maclean often channels) will love Maclean’s fresh melodic take on life and love through the lens of faith. The young songstress certainly kicks average pop up a notch, making for a stylish 12-song set that’s unexpected. One thing’s for sure, with her debut album Dara Maclean’s got our attention.