Ya’ll remember Avant? It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from him, but his new album release “The Letter” (December 7th) is putting him back where he needs to be – on the charts and in our hearts.
If you know your way around the bedroom, several of Avant’s sweet, sexy, soulful and titillating tracks such as “Read Your Mind,” “Making Good Love,” “Nothing in This World,” “Separated,” “Four Minutes,” and “Bedroom Boom” are on your ‘Knocking the Boots’ playlist.
The man has mastered cuff music, but his new album displays his multi-facets. Once dubbed the voice of ghetto soul— Avant has graduated to an artist who is no longer defined by his Cleveland roots, but as an artist that represents new, modern soul. His love ballads are reminiscent of Babyface, Luther Vandross, and R. Kelly. “These guys gave me the drive to write and sing about the way relationships should go,” he said.
What makes Avant relatable as an artist are that his songs tell stories that we’ve all been through. “The Letter” is filled with radio hits, deep with introspection about romance, love, commitment, sex and growing up. His passionate, sultry sounds take us on a journey to an intimate place.
“A letter is what you write to people to tell them what’s going on in your life,” Avant said. “This album is a letter from me to my fans about what’s going on in my life, what’s going through my head and my struggles as a man.”
His album is filled with hits. My favorite is “Where Did We Go?” which speaks about loving in such a digital age. The song talks about the pangs of establishing a relationship in the midst of Facebook, Twitter and other social networks. “I want to stay relevant without being boring.” And he’s doing just that.
Other favorites include “Body Police” and “Wake Up.” “Wake Up” is a sexy ballad about a man coming home late to his woman sleeping. He wants to do a couple things to her, but first she needs to wakeup.
“Walking on Water” which Avant self-proclaims as a wedding classic. In the lyrics he explains, “I finally found someone/A girl I can love forever/ Never thought it would happen for me/ Feels like I’m walking on water; walking on water/When I’m with you, impossible is easy to do.”
“The Letter” is Avant’s sixth album. Born in Cleveland, Ohio he was raised singing in the church. Upcoming projects for Avant include the DVD release of David E. Talbert’s play “In the Nick of Tyme” which also stars Morris Chestnut, Ellia English and Terry Dexter.
