The woman is not a singer merely his latest project/object. All image no substance. So much for real music from real musicians. Why doesn't he work with Sade or Cassandra Wilson. I guess they are talented women and artist's in their own right, not little girls he can control. It is just so predictable at this point.

juliejuliejulie said:

The woman is not a singer merely his latest project/object. All image no substance. So much for real music from real musicians. Why doesn't he work with Sade or Cassandra Wilson. I guess they are talented women and artist's in their own right, not little girls he can control. It is just so predictable at this point.

Here's my thing. I don't even expect him to work with an artist like Sade. She doesn't need Prince. I'm not even sure that I want to listen to Sade over Prince production. But, then again, I could be surprised. Cassandra Wilson? I may be able to see that, but like you said, she's already made it to some degree within the industry.

However, I do agree with your point that Andy could be mostly image only. I guess we'll soon see with her upcoming album and Chicago performance. I don't mind that he works with an up-and-coming artist as long as she (let's not kid ourselves; he'll never work with a "he") is truly talented. The issue is that talent development is not his strongsuit. A truly talented artist who can make it outside of Prince is not willing to subject themselves to his way of doing things. Outside of being controlling, he just can't offer what a major label can, which is exactly the exposure a young artists wants. Thus he tends to work with women who need him a bit more. What this says about Andy? Again we'll know the answer to this question by the end of the month.

Prince protégé-backup singer Andy Allo releasing funky new album

Prince has a new BFF. The Cameroon-born, Sacramento-based soulful songstress Andy Allo has toured extensively with the Purple One as a backup singer and guitarist in his band The New Power Generation since 2011. Now, Prince is throwing the full force of his creative influence behind the chanteuse to push her music into the spotlight.

It's working. Media outlets everywhere erupted with news of Allo's forthcoming second album, titled Superconductor, due out September 20.

Prince was the executive producer of the 9-song entire record (of course), and co-wrote three of the songs (including the title track "Superconductor") with Allo -- who penned the remaining six songs on her own. The record is going to be released on Prince's own NPG Records.

That's a lot of shared time with the High Priest of Pop, but don't worry: as far as we can tell, Superconductor doesn't sound anything like Purple Rain (not that it would really be a bad thing if it did). According to Allo in an interview with Dr. Funkberry, Prince turned the young artist onto classic rhythm and funk artists such as Sly and the Family Stone and Tower of Power. There's a little bit of that old shimmying in Allo's songs, mixed in with the modern feather-light touch of Prince. "People Pleaser" is a horn-heavy, irresistible (and unreleased) track off the upcoming album, and you get a little taste of what Allo's honey-and-smoke voice can do.

Allo is delicious, a little Eryka Badu-esque with some inspiration from Nina Simone, and we're crossing our legs, biting our nails, and tugging at our hair in anticipation of Superconductor. In the mean time, it doesn't hurt to brush up on Allo's debut album, Unfresh, which the artist released independently in 2009. You may recall the undeniably fresh track, "Dreamland."

Allo will be "officially" introduced to the world as the next Prince protégé (slash girlfriend) on September 24 at Chicago's House of Blues, where Prince will be holding and performing following his "Welcome 2 Chicago" event, benefiting the Rebuild the Dream foundation. Allo will be touring with Prince on his Welcome 2 America tour, kicking off in December, in support of Superconductor.