Diandra Reviews It All

When it comes to an album that shows how cool it is to feel empowered I recommend Sweet Spirit’s St. Mojo. This record is instantly music for power, and has “go-getter” attitude that makes you want play it before every big meeting or major task in your life. If music can change a mood then St. Mojo changes it to strength.

Based in Austin, Texas and described as “fun-loving” the eight-piece band captures a big, warm persona, which makes sense as it is headed by affirming voice of Sabrina Ellis. For a little background, Ellis formed Sweet Spirit when her band, Bobby Jealousy, and marriage of years were, simultaneously, disintegrating. If there is one thing that can send a soul in a free-fall is suddenly losing everything it has known and everyone it called for comfort. In an attempt, to go solo and re-discover a light in both herself and her talent, she formed Sweet Spirit. I mention this tale because it plays into the music of St. Mojo. Each track is about rising; either from the bottom or inconsistency. Staying and going up are not easy tasks but in songs, “The Power”, “Salvation”, and “Sweet Jesus”, you feel your own resurrection. These songs are my favorites for the rocking vocals of Ellis with a “ bring it” flare, which blazes Sweet Spirit’s loud, fast nature. Ellis says the band is most comfortable with said style, which is a fascinating twist, considering that she formed the band in a time where life felt like it was moving at “stop”.

Picking yourself up is hard because, after awhile, you can grow used to the dirt you are in. The reason depression and stress can last so long is because, even though they make you unhappy, they still make you feel oddly active. It is crazy to see how humanity can swim in negativity. but truly get stumped by positivity, of which Sweet Spirit’s album is about role-reversal; swim in positivity and challenge negativity. In “The Better It Feels Today”, Ellis graciously sings to someone to not make her fall in love with their person. It is so sweetly morose with its gentle violin and lightly bounced melody, and shows how fear blocks us from love by reminding us that everything we gain we, eventually, lose. The only thing you have for certain is yourself, which is why bashing tracks of folk protagonists like, “Pamela” and “Pretty Baby”, show the beautiful, rough ride that is when a person goes for what they want or who they desire. In these tracks, along with “I Wanna Have You” and “Bat Macumba”, Ellis has girthed harmonies with fellow, lead vocalist Andrew Cashen, of which both their voices sound like the wind you feel when you get back up. Somehow, they have emboldened in their vocals a “ pick me up by the bootstraps” rock sensibility that turns their hymnal undercurrents like in, “The Mighty”, into rallying cries for yourself, which I love. Now, more than ever, we need to stand behind ourselves, and Sweet Spirit gives you the music to do so in St.Mojo, which you can buy Here.