British singer and songwriter Denver Cuss is releasing her debut album, Leaving Me. Collaborating with co-writer Kit Warren and producer PM Warson, she has crafted a wonderfully nostalgic album in the style of 60s soul and rhythm and blues. The album features nine tracks that unmistakably echo the vocal styles of Sarah Vaughan and Aretha Franklin.Denver's journey began at the age of 19 when she started writing modern jazz originals with some university friends. In the summer of 2019, she released an experimental jazz-fusion EP, but since then, she has shifted direction, opting for a production and arrangement style reminiscent of the 60s. She first gained recognition as an accompanist and background singer for PM Warson. She and her co-writer Kit Warren began writing this album in early 2022, recording it gradually over the next 18 months. They utilized several studios across London to capture the best of each element: The Cube in Stoke Newington for the drum sound, Hackney Road Studios for lead vocals, and Sam Beer's studio in Acton for Hammond, Wurlitzer, and background vocals. This album was a labor of love, involving over 12 musicians with incredible talent. Inspired by the doo-wop and Chicago soul pioneers The Impressions, the vocal styles of Sarah Vaughan and Aretha Franklin, and the echoing, modern R&B sounds of Thee Sacred Souls and The Altons, Denver's debut album has a clear thematic thread. It effortlessly navigates the world of 60s-style background vocals and R&B horn arrangements, carefully curated by Denver. With her background in jazz and her arrangement style firmly rooted in the world of soul and R&B, you can clearly hear her influences, supported by some of London's finest musicians.
