Daniel Woods

It was a night mixed with old school flavor and new school flare; the ladies of the Secret Spot kicked off their first show of Live Music Week with an eclectic mix of vintage soul and new age R&B. The show transitioned from hour to hour at last introducing the man of the night, Daniel Woods, who graced the WERS studio with his sultry vocals.

Hailing from the Windy City of Chicago, Woods comes from a musical family; his older sister Jamie is also a singer and songwriter. Although Woods only discovered this love for music in his teens, his breathtaking vocals equally compare to that of many pros in the industry. With a higher pitched tone reminiscent of Maxwell, Woods offers a flawless musical package consisting of moving vocals and meaningful lyrics laced with emotion.

Woods began his musical set with “My Finally”, a track backed by a lone guitar, and peppered with beautiful metaphors of life and love. Woods eloquently illustrates the pangs in the pursuit of love, as his spellbinding voice soothes the mind, bringing you closer to his art. After a few intimate questions, the music became center stage once more with “Grain”, a song about “anxious love” as described by the artist himself. It was this track in particular that brought to life emotions that were real and raw with each musical note and every lyric. One line shares, “…You cried in my arms, but I guess my arms just weren’t enough…” Though inspired by the nature of everyday relationships, this also song speaks to the personal torment of love that has faded away. Closing out his set, Woods performed his final track “And I Wonder”, uncovering the passing thoughts that follow after a break up. The song takes on the form of a musical diary, divulging into the inner most recesses of the mind, and revealing bittersweet thoughts and honest wishes.

In just listening to these three songs, one can already gauge the potential magnitude of Daniel Woods’ artistic capability in the music industry. His innate musical talent can certainly stand toe to toe with many R&B legends past and present. And after already teaming up with the likes of Nona Hendryx and Lalah Hathaway, Woods is well on his way to amassing a portfolio of quality music that truly speaks to your heart and soul.

By Ashley Lindsay