Daphne Willis - Because I Can

If there was any doubt that Daphne Willis' April 19 sophomore album is a forthright statement on willingness to change and self-empowerment, you can take it from her directly. “The whole experience of making this record has been about stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new things," Willis observes. "That’s way I titled the album, Because I Can. It’s about moving to action." Part of that move and action comes from personal stuff -- a relationship break-up, a move from Chicago to Nashville -- but it's the choice of bold strokes from Willis and producer Tim Lauer that have taken her songs from spunky, funky jam/folk to a more straightforward and forceful pop/rock. The Jack Johnson-ish acoustic shuffle of her '09 debut What to Say, while still in evidence on songs like "I Will Be Waiting", has been mostly eclipsed by a rush of rhythm, rock and full-throttle pop energy.

“I pushed myself hard on this album, and I really let myself be pushed,” says Willis, referencing a new strategy of co-writing with the likes of fellow Nashville songwriter Megan McCormick, who also plays a mean guitar on their "Weatherman" collaboration, and Vanguard label mate Tevor Hall ("Circumstances"). One distinctive holdover from her debut is the generous use of horns in the arrangements, a decision that ramps up the soulful wallop to songs like the New Orleans flavored powerhouse "Shake It Off" and lays down a richly layered sonic bed behind the slow dancing "Slow Down." There's also a radio-friendly rhythmic kick to "Do What You Want, a smart and sexy take on some vibrant folk/pop jangle, along with the introspective piano ballad "Sad" to round out the album's diverse moods and textures. Video for "I Will Be Waiting" after the jump...

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Daphne Willis - "One By One" (from the album Because I Can)

Daphne Willis - "Slow Down" (from the album Because I Can)