Four years have flown by since local Latin pop force Gina Chavez’s sophomore Up.Rooted. In between grew critical acclaim and nuptials with longtime partner Jodi Granado. Lightbeam thus offers a sleek, unrelenting capture of big, big love. The soulful EP finds Chavez swapping acoustic for electric guitar alongside keyboardist David Boyle and joined by A-list drummer Conrad Choucroun and White Denim bassist Steve Terebecki. Showcasing R&B, “It’s Hard to Love a Woman” lays out persistent promises to her counterpart in blues-backed buoyancy. “Heaven Knows” accompanies footage of the ceremony complete with “love is love”-emblazoned maracas, which repeats in the steamy track’s refrain. Via Pharrell-compatible disco adornments, “Let It Out” unleashes on the dance floor. In five varied tracks, exclusively available at Waterloo Records, Chavez breaks new ground.

***.5

This article appears in September 28 • 2018.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US