It’s been a long time coming for Marsha Ambrosius, the former Floetry songstress who releases her solo debut album, Late Nights & Early Mornings, today.
In the midst of releasing three albums as half of the English R&B duo, Marsha also made dozens of guest appearances on other artists’ tracks. Following a brief stint with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment label, she found a home at J Records last year and has been preparing for this moment by showcasing her aural aphrodisiac talents on a number of mixtapes.
Not only is Marsha a gifted singer, she’s also a talented songwriter and producer having written and produced most of the album herself. She shares co-writing credit with Alicia Keys on the smooth, seduction-filled song “With You”, the first track following the introduction, appropriately titled “Anticipation”. Marsha keeps the mood going as she declares it’s gonna be a late night, early morning on the title track layered over a Bobby Z-esque beat (see Prince’s “The Beautiful Ones”) produced by Rich Harrison.
♫ Marshia Ambrosius – Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player)
But things quickly go from grown and sexy to “I hope she cheat on you with a basketball player” with the album’s lead single. Instead of wishing an ex well, Marsha wishes everything that could go wrong for him to actually do so because, as she explained in an interview with Rap-Up, “my ego is bruised and I’m acting out”, a feeling which most people can attest to feeling at some point in their life.
♫ Marshia Ambrosius – Far Away
The album’s second single, “Far Away”, unfortunately, also conveys emotion we all happen to know all too well. Inspired by one of Marsha’s friends who committed suicide (as she mentions in the song's video), the mid-tempo track is the perfect soundtrack to dealing with the loss of a loved one.
♫ Marsha Ambrosius – Lose Myself
Marsha injects new life into the messy melange of Lauryn Hill's "Lose Myself", which was included on the Surf’s Up soundtrack. In addition, her cover of Portishead's "Sour Times" rivals the original with Marsha’s strong vocals as compared to those of the delicately nonchalant Beth Gibbons.
“I Want You to Stay” and “Tears” are in full contrast of “Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player)” which finds Marsha pleading, “I’m begging you, stay with me. I want you back. Don’t you leave me here.” But the time eventually comes to move on, as evidenced by “The Break Up Song”.
♫ Marshia Ambrosius – With You
Fortunately, the album doesn’t end on such a sad note, which fans will appreciate as the upbeat reworking of "Butterflies", which was a classic midtempo ballad Marsha wrote with Andre Harris (of Dre & Vidal) and Michael Jackson recorded in 2001 for inclusion on what would be his tenth and final studio album, Invincible.
Fans of Floetry will definitely flock to this album, and it will undoubtedly introduce Marsha to a number of new listeners. But Late Nights & Early Mornings means even more to Marsha, showcasing her as a stand-alone artist who no longer has to rely on the assistance of someone else or play second-string to anyone…and with talent like hers, it also promises even greater things to come.
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