Kovacs - Shades Of Black (2015) [Hi-Res]

Sharon Kovacs, who records and performs as Kovacs, is a Dutch singer with a darkly alluring, soul-steeped voice that recalls that of Amy Winehouse. As a youngster, Kovacs played in bands and performed at talent shows, but she didn't make any serious moves until after she graduated high school, when she auditioned for Rock City Institute, a music school based in her hometown of Eindhoven. She was accepted but found that she and her teachers were a poor match. Through social media, she contacted Oscar Holleman and impressed the producer enough to spark a collaboration. The two involved additional songwriters and recorded an album in Holland and Cuba. The ballad "My Love," boasting a theatrical and mature sound that belied Kovacs' age of 24, was released as the album's first single in 2014. The same year, the singer made herself known with several performances, including appearances at Bospop and the North Sea Jazz Festival. Shades of Black, Kovacs' debut album, was released in early 2015. ~ Andy Kellman