My Australian obsession, Havana Brown, is known for her work behind the turntables, but now she is finally putting her voice to work with the release of her new five-song EP, When the Lights Go Out. Brown quickly came into my life with the release of her debut US single, “We Run the Night feat. Pitbull”, a hot, dance track that caught my attention and recently garnered top 40 success. With the small EP, Brown shows she is not just a one-hit wonder with a collection of tracks that have some single potential, while others take her a couple of steps back.
The EP comes out swinging with the infectious lead single, “We Run the Night”, featuring dance hitmaker Pitull. Brown’s performance may not be anything too extraordinary, but she certainly knows how to command a dance floor. Her vocals are soft when need be, but pack a strong punch during the verses to keep a listener intrigued. The hook is simple, but I still can’t get it out of my head.
“You’ll Be Mine” starts off slow and sweet, accompanied by a beat that seems to be on every hit song this summer, but picks up the pace rather unexpectedly. The song’s highlight is definitely the catchy chorus and hook. The verses could have been better, they kind of get in the way of the full on pop/dance masterpiece the track could have been. Next single maybe?
Brown tries to throw in one real ballad with the inclusion of “One Way Trip” which contains some dubstep/electronic influences. Brown loves how it feels when she is in the arms of the one she holds close. To be honest, the track is a big mess. The song is best when Brown’s vocals are accompanied by just the piano. R&B influences and dubstep breakdowns were far from necessary.
The artist could top the dance/club charts and “Spread A Little Love” may be her best shot at doing so. Lyrically, the song fits in perfectly with the 90s dance craze. It’s a creation I could picture myself dancing the night away to. It is not your typical pop song, which is I reason I enjoy it. Again, the artist can craft a great chorus. “If we spread a little love we’ll never die”, great words to live by.
The short, five-track extended play closes with “Big Banana”, a song that bares similarities to a Dev or Ke$ha track, and no that is not a compliment. Brown’s rapping in the verses is a little hard to enjoy, accompanied by an unknown male artist makes it even worse. The chorus is silly and strange, although catchy and perfect for the summer, it sounds very out of place here.
When the Lights Go Out is the first collection of tracks from an artist who impressed me at the very beginning. The five songs from Havana Brown completely missed the mark I was hoping for. While a couple of the tracks showcase the talent the artist has at becoming a pop/dance heavyweight, the others highlight her flaws. Ballads and rapping may not be the route to go when she is putting together her official debut effort. This EP is hopefully not the best she can give. I will wait for her full debut, continue to watch her success on the charts, and hope for more. This effort receives a 76%.
Tracks to Hear: “We Run the Night feat. Pitbull”, “You’ll Be Mine” and “Spread A Little Love”
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