Singer, songwriter, producer Lalah Hathaway is commonly known as the daughter of soul legend Donny Hathaway (who is regarded as the soul of soul music). It is a surprise as to how many are unaware that this soul sister has worked with Mary J. Blige, The Winans, Take 6, Joe Sample, and Marcus Miller. Previously Lalah Hathaway released three solo albums, during 1990 and 2004, all of which gained huge critical acclaim, and eventually returned Lalah Hathaway with several stateside R&B and jazz hits and one UK top 40 with her cover of Sly Stone’s ‘Family Affair’.

Self-Portrait is the honey soul singer’s fourth record released on the revived Stax Records and also Concord Music Group. It has production and songwriting credits from Rex Rideout (Ledisi) and Rahsaan Patterson. Lalah Hathaway’s Self-Portrait offers twelve soulful songs, throughout her modern day soul master piece she includes stunning fender rhodes, noticing the attention to layers and textures. It is an album that is like a tapestry of Lalah Hathaway’s raw emotion. Each song is carefully written, often to match her melody, this by the end of the song takes the listener on a journey.

Lalah Hathaway has a moving voice, like her iconic father yet she still keeps it her own unique sound and style. ‘Let Go’ is Self-Portrait’s first single, catchy and deep in groove. Songs that overall shine are ‘On Your Own’, ‘For Always’, ‘That Was Then’, ‘One Mile’, ‘Little Girl’, the incredible ‘What Comes Around’, and the amazing ‘Tragic Inevitability’.

This is the album we have been waiting for, Lalah Hathawat does more than impress with Self-Portrait.