Over the Christmas, I stumbled upon Lifetime broadcasting a biopic of Aaliyah. It was obviously awful, and no fitting tribute to the legacy of a singer who was so ahead of the curve, she’s still inspiring new artists. Her Timberland-produced music is partly responsible for a recent strand in R&B with the likes of Kelela, SZA and FKA Twigs among them inspired by the late ’90s singer.
Here’s a more fitting nod, a cover of ‘More Than A Woman’ by Kelly Lee Owens, a singer who recently featured on Daniel Avery’s Drone Logic album and who has been working her way towards a debut album later this year. Production on the cover is by James Greenwood and Owens and it takes a bubbling acid arpeggio take on the original while Kelly Lee Owens pays a fine tribute to the singer that continues to inspire.
https://soundcloud.com/kellyleeowens/more-than-a-woman-klo-aaliyah-cover
https://soundcloud.com/kellyleeowens/sets/kelly-lee-owens-uncertain
https://soundcloud.com/kellyleeowens/sets/kelly-lee-owens-debut-ep-lucid
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
