Maria joins the fray of singularly named R&B chanteuses with her debut set, “My Soul.” Signed by Soulshock, of production duo Soulshock & Karlin, to his Soulpower imprint, the Danish songstress blends gentle R&B vocals with ethereal pop hooks. Lead single “I Give, You Take” is already gaining attention at top 40 radio. With its driving chorus and serene melody, the Soulshock & Karlin-produced single is a fitting introduction for the singer. Similarly, the album’s title track is a mellow affair that showcases the singer’s breathy alto. Maria also scores with the racy, uptempo “Coffee in Bed.” Much of the material here has a mellow feel to it. While this makes for a few interesting listens, it fails to show the singer’s true potential.—RH
