A sultry slide guitar, the lonely moan of a blues harp, the righteous thump of a fatback bass and the sticky soulful rhythm of a Beale Street backbeat … within the first few bars of the first song on High Maintenance, her stunning debut release, Joanna Cotten lays it all out like a slow ride down through the delta. Then she starts to sing, and all heaven breaks loose.
She calls her music "Funkabilly," and the appellation fits just right, serving as both the title of her album's leadoff track and as a dead-on description of Cotten's undeniable artistry – a heart-stopping mix of God-given talent, flawless technique, and deep-down southern soul that adds up to the most potent, pure-country voice to come out of Nashville in a long, long time. By the time the song fades to a raucous, gospel-drenched finale it's crystal clear – this girl was born to sing.
It's been a long and winding path to her debut, and Cotten has grown with every turn in the road. These days, with High Maintenance ready for release, Cotten is chomping at the bit to introduce country fans to her own, patented brand of "Funkabilly."
"I can't wait," she enthuses. "Get ready to sink your feet down in the Delta mud!"
