Five years ago, from the nu-soul scene that spawned Jill Scott and Erykah Badu, stepped India.Arie, a Colorado-born singer whose blend of playful funk, seductive soul and female-friendly sentiment made her an overnight sensation. When her debut album, Acoustic Soul, scooped seven Grammy nominations, it looked as though Arie would surpass the success of her nu-soul sisters and book her place in pop history.
Since then, however, the earthy songbird has struggled. In the States she remains a diva for the serious soul set, if hardly a household name, while in Britain her profile has sunk with every subsequent album. This year’s Testimony: Vol.1, Life & Relationship received lukewarm reviews and barely dented the charts, while the crowd at the first of her two rare London shows had clearly come in the hope of hearing her old hits.
They had a long wait on their hands before the classic tracks Video and Brown Skin. The rest of the set was a frustrating mix of honeyed soul vocals, top-notch musicianship, so-so storytelling and self-indulgence that peaked with Arie singing “I love you” to herself.
Choosing to fill the first hour with nine new numbers lost the white-clad, turban-sporting star momentum early on, although it did suggest that her latest album has been underestimated.
Thankfully, the second hour had a far higher hit rate and some pleasant surprises. On I Choose, Arie pulled off a masterful mix of rock, funk and R&B that was a world away from her nu-soul roots; a cover of Cyndi Lauper’s True Colours screamed potential, career-reviving single; and an acoustic interlude that trod country territory was simply lovely. Had she edited better, Arie could have put on a stunning show. Someone, perhaps, should have a word in her ear.