Nina Kraviz

Nina Kraviz is a bit of an enigma. The Siberian-born tastemaker's recent success has been relatively elusive. Influenced by the early sounds of Chicago and Detroit, Kraviz has been thrown into the spotlight, thanks largely to her abrasive personality and alluring exterior, but there's plenty of substance supporting her ego. Years as a promoter for one of Moscow's renowned clubs, the outspoken vinyl enthusiast has been on a mission to prove her talents exceed the DJ booth. Her full-length self-titled debut is a valiantly executed effort, weaving together elements of classic R&B, slow burning house and haunting ambiance. To her earliest supporters, inclusions like booty-shaking single "Ghetto Kravitz" and feel-good anthem "Taxi Talk" might leave the release feeling more like a pop effort, but Nina's elegantly raw vocal style keeps the album's artistic integrity intact, leaving the 14 track statement best digested as a whole.