CD REVIEW: Kira Fontana “The Inner Revolution”

I happened across this Brooklyn-based singer, pianist, and songwriter Kira Fontana‘s debut album “The Inner Revolution” at Greenpoint Coffeehouse in Brooklyn, NY, reaffirming that the best thing about music is its ability to speak for itself when given the opportunity. Upon listening to the tracks, it became clear that the dreaded comparisons to nearly every songstress would be bound to creep up on the average listener – bearing a beef towards contemporary music or not. However apparent the skill of our most talented female composers, the double-standard seethes. It’s difficult to be an individual, let alone a female in an immense sea of already-dones, already-mastereds, and rather-redundants.

Nevertheless, despite the comparisons to a watered-down Evanescence or Regina Spektor, it is to be highlighted that Fontana’s ear for music has been developed since the ripe old age of five. And thanks to the aid of classically-trained, Pulitzer prize-winning composers and an education at Yale University, Fontana has been able to provide herself with producing, composing, and arranging credits on her debut. Such accomplishments are impressive in the land of the standard bubble gum marketable product.

Fontana sings in a way that will never claim to be anything but raw and true to human form. One might very well feel their shoulders gradually drop during certain verses of “Spark the Fire”, due to vocals that will encourage the immediate health benefits of breathing. With background vibes, sporadic undertones of harder rock, and delicate strings, Fontana and her crew paints a colorful picture with ample expression fit for a future studio release, touring local venues, or perhaps film scoring. Whatever the formats to follow, “The Inner Revolution” sets an admirable enough stage for us to anticipate what more will be piped through our earbuds.

We recommend the following tracks: “Still”, “Interlude”, and “Love”.

Photo via KiraFontana.com