Tonina - “Perfect (Cu Ti Lu Dissi)”

SXSW 2024 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Jackie Mendoza, Ana Tijoux, Seratones

While Tonina is an artist from the middle of America (St. Louis, MO), the bassist/vocalist pulls from a wide range of World music, specifically Latin American and Italian influences informing her romantic melodies. Jazz and soul dance in concert on Tonina’s 2022 record Senti, singing multiple languages to match the dreamy, traditionalist lens of the quietly explorative album. She has a rich, detailed voice, more floating than precise, gently bouncing note to note. There’s connections to classic soul in Tonina’s melodies, shared in a way that balances the light, jazz-fusion music underneath. She’s since released a string of collaborative singles that step in hip hop, dance, and folk spaces depending on the partner, and hopefully an appearance at SXSW 2024 means another solo record is up ahead. Tonina showcases Saturday night at Victorian Room at The Driskill for Sofar Sounds. (Kevin McStravick)