Tasha
Alone at Last
FATHER/DAUGHTER
7/10
Tasha’s debut, Alone at Last, is a cosmic neo-soul odyssey, a lush and alluring world unto itself. It elicits the kind of place that only exists in dreams, a sort of chrysalis from all the chaos surrounding us, with Tasha serving as a protective, motherly figure who conjures up a meditative kind of stoicism.
Tasha draws from a myriad of influences, incorporating elements of jazz, R&B, indie rock, and soul on Alone at Last, a record that blurs the lines between genres. It’s also heavily influenced by poetry, opening with a spoken word piece (“Take Care”) and accompanied by a poetry zine featuring contributions from fellow Chicago-based writers, including Jamila Woods. The album finds Tasha rediscovering her love for guitar (an instrument her mom first taught her at age fifteen), sewing together seven tracks with plush strumming patterns and distinct chord voicings. “New Place” and “Kind of Love” are sultry and tender, but compared to the minimalist compositions they’re cushioned between, they sound almost bombastic.
On “Lullaby,” Tasha sings, “You don’t always have to be the one to save the world”—but she may end up being someone who disregards her own advice.
