Esperanza Spalding is a Grammy Award-winning bassist, vocalist and songwriter best known for her albums “Esperanza” and “Radio Music Society.” Photo from Academy of Achievement | Sandrine Lee
Lily Cole | Editor
Jada Hauser | Graphic Designer
People always ask, “What kind of music do you like?” Ah, the classic icebreaker to get to know someone. For the longest time, I’d bounce between indie and pop, trying to find the “right” answer to fit whoever I was talking to. But recently, I had a lightbulb moment and thought, “Wait, why am I trying to fit into someone else’s box when they’re trying to get to know ME?” So, now, I proudly say–jazz.
Since high school, I’ve been an avid jazz fan. In 2022, I sang with an all-female jazz ensemble at Henry Ford College, which opened my eyes to the genre as a whole and introduced me to a ton of new artists, one being the amazingly talented Esperanza Spalding.
Spalding, sometimes known by her stylized name, esperanza spalding, is an American bassist, singer, songwriter and composer. She released her debut album, “Junjo,” in 2006 and her self-titled album in 2008 under the independent American label Heads Up.
She earned critical success with “Chamber Music Society” in 2010 and “Radio Music Society” in 2012, which won multiple Grammy Awards. She later explored the funk rock genre with “Emily’s D+Evolution” in 2016 and topped Billboard’s Top Jazz Albums with “12 Little Spells” in 2019, which also won a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Some standouts from her self-titled album are “Ponta De Areia,” “Fall In” and “Precious.”
Spalding’s sound is a wild, genre-blending ride. She mixes smooth jazz, funky basslines, soulful vocals, and a splash of rock, Latin and classical vibes. She’s a master of fusing acoustic and electronic elements, making her music feel both experimental and polished. Her music has plenty of unexpected twists and grooves that’ll keep you hooked–especially in “Emily’s D+Evolution.”
Because she’s been playing bass for so long, she has a way of making the lines both the back and heart of her songs. She weaves in intricate fingerpicking, slaps and grooves that add a rich, almost melodic tone. The basslines are just as rich as her voice as she blends her quiet vocals with belting notes that just feel organic and textured. It’s one that lingers in your ears–soothing and memorable.
In an interview with NuSoul Magazine in 2008, when asked why she chose the bass over other instruments, she explained that it wasn’t a conscious decision; the bass “had its own arc” and simply spoke to her. She also described the experience of discovering the bass as similar to “waking up one day and realizing you’re in love with a co-worker.”
I hope that if you’re looking to wake up one day and fall in love with something, it would be Splading’s music. She does not disappoint.
Listen to our playlist on Spotify: