Drawing on nuances of Blues explored as part of her musical foundation, this collection of six (6) brand new songs finds the Berkeley raised, LA-based songstress arriving at an evolved take on her signature soul-step.

Take one listen to her emotionally powerful and melodic vocals, through songs laden with orchestral-strings such as on “Nothing but the Best” or “Peek Away”, there’s no mistaking the SOUL in her DNA. Her organic nu soul sound reflects her upbringing in and around the rich diversity of the Bay Area’s multi-cultural society, where her earliest encounter with music was through the influence of both her parents’ vinyl collection including Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Los Panchos, Bob Marley and others. Music brought the voice out of her as a child and continues to propel her creativity as a vocalist, a true natural born talent.

Fast-forward to today, and with two baby boys she’s brought into this world, Destani Wolf has become a strong and multi-layered woman. Positive in spirit and with the guidance from her mentor, Blues guitarist/composer Johnny Tolbert (Sam Cooke, Etta James, T. Bone Walker, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland) – who also taught her the Blues and helped her record her first demo, her journey continues onward towards a career-path enriched with organic, retro and nu soul. On ‘PEEK AWAY’, soaring soundscapes underlay the interwoven retro-futurism of nu soul and 70s funk on “Why Should I Stay” and “Uprising (Do-it!)”, making her 6-pack solid.

Whether opening for Alice Smith or Laura Mvula at San Francisco’s ‘The Independent’, performing live with the likes of UK’s Alice Russell on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ or gracing the stage with shows in New York (‘Lincoln Center’, ‘Joe’s Pub’), San Francisco Bay (‘Yoshi’s, ‘Bimbos’, ‘Stern Grove Festival’) and Los Angeles (‘LACMA’, ‘Sonos Studio’, ‘UCLA Jazz Reggae Fest’), Destani — who also writes songs and sings in Spanish, has recordings on two Grammy-nominated Latin Jazz LPs (John Santos ‘S.F. BAY’ and Jose Rizo’s ‘MONGORAMA’). She recently contributed vocals for the songs “Crossroads” and “Live like a Warrior” by Jewish-American, reggae-emcee Matisyahu while working with producer Kool Kojak (Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida, Ke$ha), and has also lent her voice to other projects with Artists such as Seu Jorge, Zap Mama, Quantic, SoVosó (Bobby McFerrin offshoot), Bay Area favorite, O-maya and The Pharcyde. Her solo debut LP ‘AGAIN and AGAIN’ (‘06) still remains an underground classic of edgy soul.

Destani was and still is ALWAYS ready to sing – anywhere or anytime. Free styling with ease, she’ll move any crowd, or even is known to surprise audiences by throwing in her ‘invisible band’ of trumpeters and drummers via her skillfully crafted, improvisational human a cappella beats! More evident on this EP though, Destani (LIVE) has an ability to touch the audience by her heartfelt delivery of REAL elements for the listener. On ‘PEEK AWAY’, if there were ever such a connecting force for one to pause, or possibly cause tears to outpour, it’d unmistakably be “Your Love for Me” – rich in thankful, appreciative love.

Vocally blessed, Destani’s discovered her vocal ability as more of a functional role, whether it’s fueling more honesty for family and close peers at events, or for society and her community in order to raise awareness on life’s layers, love matters and those inspirational truths. “I feel blessed that music travels through me, and I feel like it’s something I want to share, and I need to share,” Destani affirms. “My voice is a powerful way to unite people and that’s the thing about music, it heals and it funnels energy. I carry my voice everywhere I go, that’s a gift.”

There’s an inherent religiosity in the interplay between life + love. When Destani reflects on each song’s meaning (below) you’ll realize that there’s an unending cycle of life + love that’s sometimes beyond our emotional withstanding. Even if we’re reluctant to accept, life + love does reveal our innermost feelings. That’s why her ‘PEEK AWAY’ EP gives the listener a chance at hope, an outlet to cope and a positive window into beginning to be healed. But of course, Destani breaks it down the best…

by Marlon Regis