Heather Headley – ‘In My Mind' (RCA Records)

Trinidad-born actress, singer, and songwriter Heather Headley is certainly no newcomer to the world of entertainment. She has earned countless accolades from industry critics, a Grammy nomination, a Tony award, and has landed lead roles in some of Broadway’s most successful plays, such as Elton John’s ‘Aida’ and Disney’s’ ‘The Lion King’. That being said, it should be understood that anything in which she plays a part would exhibit excellence and professionalism. Heather’s sophomore album, ‘In My Mind’, shows her commitment to both, in addition to her incredible songwriting and emotion-filled vocals.

'In My Mind' couples everyday situations and relatable lyrics with the musical production of some of the hottest names in the industry such as: Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Warren “Baby Dubb” Campbell, Shannon Sanders, Tony Kelly and Andrew Ramsey. Although this album is comprised mostly of ballads, there are several songs that personally stand out: The title track, ‘In My Mind’, ‘Am I Worth It’, which bares a striking resemblance to Brandy’s ‘He Is’ (produced by Warren Campbell); ‘Losing You’, ‘The Letter’ and the up-tempo, Caribbean-influenced ‘Rain’, on which Heather gets help from Jamaican dance-hall icon, Shaggy. ‘Rain’ has the potential to be a big hit in the clubs. I also have to mention ‘Wait a Minute’, a song that I believe will become a women’s anthem and achieve a status similar to that of Deborah Cox’s ‘Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here’.

Heather’s second album clearly shows her growth as an artist and as a songwriter. The lyrics affirm that she is fully cognizant of who and where she is musically. She feels every note that she sings and her voice remains intense from start to finish. As I previously mentioned, this album is heavy on the ballads. Despite that, I still managed to listen to this album in its entirety and not once did I become bored or reach for the “skip” button. For 45 minutes and 29 seconds, I was completely captivated and thoroughly impressed. If you were a fan of Heather’s debut album, you will fall in love with this one.