Image from instagram.com/heatherbatchelor
An infectious mix of pop and soul, Heather Batchelor is one of the Nashville pop scene’s brightest new stars.
A Little Rock, Arkansas native, Batchelor has been in Nashville for six years, and has spent that time well. She’s developed a unique mix of the genres that influenced her most. From the first, horn infested note of Walk This Off, it’s clear that Batchelor has taken the plunge and fully embraced soul and blues music. Her 2014 effort, Unraveled, is more folk-rooted, with much more acoustic guitar than horn. Her soulful, powerful voice easily transitions from the muted guitars of her first EP to the blaring horns of her second, showing Batchelor’s versatility as an artist.
The new four-song EP covers a great range of emotions, from angry, angsty teenage emotions in “What’s It Gonna Take,” and a more mature side shown in “Turning the Other Cheek.” In the latter, she embraces taking care of her own emotions, rather than putting a man in front of her with the simple line: “I gotta love myself before anybody.” She embraces herself on the EP, unapologetically making music that represents her, rather than forcing herself into a genre box.
And Batchelor’s music is hard to put in a box, but that’s what makes her such an interesting artist. A mainstream comparison could be singer/songwriter Anderson East, who just released his full throwback soul record Encore. East has managed to find an audience, if not consistent radio play, and Batchelor could do that too. She has the voice, the style and the lyrics to make it big.
The new four-song EP covers a great range of emotions, from angry, angsty teenage emotions in “What’s It Gonna Take,” and a more mature side shown in “Turning the Other Cheek.” In the latter, she embraces taking care of her own emotions, rather than putting a man in front of her with the simple line: “I gotta love myself before anybody.” She embraces herself on the EP, unapologetically making music that represents her, rather than forcing herself into a genre box.
And Batchelor’s music is hard to put in a box, but that’s what makes her such an interesting artist. A mainstream comparison could be singer/songwriter Anderson East, who just released his full throwback soul record Encore. East has managed to find an audience, if not consistent radio play, and Batchelor could do that too. She has the voice, the style and the lyrics to make it big.
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