2026 – New Sun Records
Release Date : September 18, 2026
By Phillip
Smith; October
31, 2026
Crystal Shawanda has been one of my favorite singers for quite a while
now. It’s very plain why she has won six
Maple Blues Awards and multiple JUNO awards. Shawanda has one of those voices that
navigate right to my soul. Her new album
Homesick Indian Blues delicately pairs her remarkable mastery of delivering
story-telling songs within a convergence of Indigenous blues, southern
soul, and country, creating this very personal, music-based journal. Musicians accompanying Shawanda on the
majority of this album consist of her husband, guitarist Dewayne Strobel,
bassist Eddie Perez, drummer Nioshi Jackson, Peter Keys on
piano/organ, Stephen Hanner on harmonica, and Chris West on
horns. The record also includes
appearances by guitarist Eddie Perez, bassist Stan Miczek,
drummer Al Baby Webster, and backing vocalists Quisha Wint, Zhaawande,
Lauren Anderson, Rissi Palmer, and Laurie Webb.
Shawanda opens the album with a lush and riveting performance on title-track “Homesick Indian Blues”. Her powerful voice takes the reins on this marvelous song loaded with a pulsing rhythm, and a fierce serving of harmonica. I dig the Robert Cray-ish vibe Strobel injects into “Cut Through the Wind”. It sounds amazing, paired with the raspy approach Shawanda takes vocally. This is about as perfect as a song can get. Wrapped in a cozy blanket of southern Stax-style soul, her cover of Albert King’s “I’ll Play the Blues For You” drips with raw emotion. This stellar recording boasts a delicious horn-infused accompaniment topped with an awe-inspiring serving of Strobel’s buttery guitar licks and I love every bit of it. Hearing the cover of The Mavericks’ “Come to Me” gives me chills and goosebumps as Shawanda sings it with a fearless beauty. It’s exhilarating to hear Perez crown this one with brilliant flair. “I’m on My Way Home” perks my ears up for a heaping serving of real-deal blues. Hanner’s harp performance really shines on this one. With the world in such a distressed state, Shawanda sings ‘Cry for revolution. Cry for resolution…’ in “The Whole World’s Got the Blues”. It’s such a fitting song for the closing track and gives one a sense of hope knowing there are others who feel the same.
Crystal Shawanda’s Homesick Indian Blues is a record I highly recommend giving a listen to. It is an absolute gem.
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https://www.crystalshawandamusic.com
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reviews on PhillyCheeze’s Rock & Blues Reviews follow this link: https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Crystal+Shawanda
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