Bette Smith – “I Found Love” (audio) (premiere)

Brooklyn’s Bette Smith possesses a one of a kind voice, deeply drenched in hot soul of the nearly incendiary Southern type. That voice could rock the biggest of stages and move mountains if it had to. Smith has a bit of an old-school vibe, but her music is thoroughly contemporary because we all know that great soul music is timeless and always relevant.

Smith is set to release her debut album Jetlagger on 29 September via Big Legal Mess, a subsidiary of the superlative Fat Possum label. Jimbo Mathus produced the record down in Mississippi where they recorded the album with Smith and a bunch of veteran southern musicians. Smith may be a Brooklynite, but she can belt it like a Stax singer, and she blends in elements of rock and funk that keep the energy level high and thrilling. Count me as a massive fan. Smith is the sort of artist that you’ll find yourself following her whole career.

Smith’s latest single “I Found Love” is a rocking number that’ll whet your appetite for her upcoming essential purchase album.

Smith says she “pretended to be a minister preaching the gospel early on a Sunday morning — you know the call and answer segment? I requested to Jimbo Mathus that we record it first thing in the morning before we embraced the other songs. I’m thankful my plan worked out all right!”

Jetlagger is available for pre-order at Bandcamp.