Onitsha | Church Girl

Straight from the Hidden Beach, family’s ‘Stillwaters’ program comes a young, gifted songstress who sang back-up with Mary Mary before this debut named Onitsha (Check the intro)! She brings an offering of worship & praise, her style, directly from the sanctuary entitled “Church Girl“!

The project carries definitive collections of quality productions & vocal ranges. One might suggest, listening completely to each track, this CD may begin to remind you more of sounds relating to Beyonce, or Ciara, rather than musical content next to Yolanda Adams or Joann Rosario. Although it shouldn’t matter & precedence for subject matter & lyrics should maintain aspect to the CD title, this CD does has it moments!

Shep Crawford continues to bring plates of soulfood productions & songwriting credits to various tracks. “Gotta Believe Me” & “Lay Your Troubles Down” have certain R&B elements which took away any chance of paying attention to vocal ranges from Onitsha because the groove mattered more; “This One” was very nice! I dug that track & its vocal arrangements! Along with “God Is On Your Side“…. How come “Search Me Lord“…a revealing & brighter side, harmonious, musical gem feat. Onitsha & vocals from the one & only Gospel Queen – Mahalia Jackson, was cut down to less than 2 minutes??? It was the BEST track!!??

Many of the other tracks sounded more R&B mainstream than Gospel. The complete Urban Gospel fit. A little “Mary – Mary” afterglow. But that’s OK, it doesn’t mean this is not a solid effort. It just means the project is different in taste!

There is a bright future for this young lady & I wish her Godspeed! However, please bring “Search Me Lord” back & flow it all the way through!!

Take It Easy….

~ Terrill J. Hanna