As the daughter of a legendary musician, Deva Mahal could have easily banked on the family name to open doors and gain recognition. And though she has worked with her father, Taj Mahal, her successes have been the result of forging a path for herself. Through the years, her rich vocals and songwriting skills have earned the respect of peers and critics alike. After a Bounce-Worthy stint with Fredericks Brown and collaborations with SB faves like Electric Wire Hustle, Ms. Mahal is scheduled to release her anticipated full-length debut, Run Deep, on Motéma Music this year.
Just a few months ago, she blessed fans with a self-titled EP as an audio trailer to the upcoming album. Now, she has released the video for inspiring jam "Snakes," the first track from the project to receive visual treatment. Steeped in bluesy sass, gritty soul and foot-stomping gospel, the cautionary tale is an emotive blend of tough love and empowerment. The inspiration behind the creative clip comes from a surprising source, Deva's favorite childhood book Liza Lou and the Yeller Belly Swamp by Mercer Mayer. Directed by John W. Rutland with animation by Fons Schiedon, the abstract narrative follows a young girl as she faces off against an unexpected danger. As the singer explained in an interview with PopDust, the intent was to "share my message to be wary as well as be hopeful - that our light will ultimately defeat the darkness."
Even though it hasn't dropped yet, Run Deep is definitely on our list of "must haves" for 2018. In the meantime, watch out for "Snakes" below and download a copy of Deva Mahal for your listening enjoyment. For album updates and her current tour schedule, head over to her official website.
