Artist:     Crystal Shawanda

Album:     VooDoo Woman

Label:     True North Records

Release Date:     09.21.2018

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Singer Crystal Shawanda was a country artist, complete with a top 20 country hit and CMT reality show, Crystal: Living the Dream. But the country world didn’t feel right, so Shawanda pivoted into the blues. VooDoo Woman, her first blues album available outside of her native Canada, shows an impressive, real-deal blues artist who isn’t dabbling in blues so much as channeling it.

Shawanda taps into an impressive energy that shows the finer-than-one-might-think line between the blues and punk. The album, which was cut live, is phrenetic, kicking off at a high intensity and then never relenting. She starts the album on an appropriate note, with a Howlin’ Wolf medley of “Wang Dang Doodle/Smokestack Lightnin’.” The track begins with her band warming up, trying to orient themselves to the song, before careening into “Wang Dang Doodle.” The organ and drums chug away and Shawanda’s raspy scream surfs along the groove, with stabs of slide guitar and harmonica providing melody. And suddenly, before the song is even done, she’s shifted the band and the song into “Smokestack Lightnin’.” The move is seamless and natural. She doesn’t sound like Howlin’ Wolf, although they both share a certain hoarseness, but she perfectly captures his defiance.

Shawanda isn’t just about speed and intensity, although even her take on Etta James shows a certain amount of blues swagger. Her faithful version of the gentle “I’d Rather Go Blind” has a bit of Bob Dylan to it, sounding a bit like “I Shall Be Released.” Shawanda’s rough voice takes away some of James’ sweetness, but Shawanda and her co-producer, Dewayne Strobel, wisely compensate with church organs and choir-like background vocals. The grit of Shawanda’s voice and the serenity of the arrangement are perfect.

Shawanda performs two of her own co-writes showing she’s more than just an interpreter. “Cry Out for More,” a sweet blues with a great slide part, is like a high-energy Bonnie Raitt tune. “Trouble,” with its ’60s surf guitar riff, sounds like a lost garage rock classic. Both tracks are interesting surprises on an album full of covers.

Shawanda comes from country but she’s found herself in the blues. Given her central casting blues voice and her limitless energy, it’s surprising it took her as long as it did to discover her true vocation. VooDoo Woman is the work of a true blues artist.

—Steven Ovadia