There was always music in Jeanette “Sista Soul” Cooper’s childhood. The house was filled with singing, instruments, and movement in rhythm. Her father sang in a church choir, her mother performed with vocal groups and danced on stage. In this kind of environment, a child grows up almost inside a song, and that’s how Jeanette developed the habit of sensing a melody even before her hand reached for the keys.

Later on, church became the first stage where she discovered herself as a performer. In school, she was already confidently stepping up to the microphone, and even then it was clear: music had always been her personal space. She writes songs, produces, and works with sound and vocals herself, because that’s the only way she can express her perspective, her tone, her space, the way she hears music in her head.

In 2017, she released her first album, Celebration, where she openly shared her experience of overcoming depression, pain, breakups, and inner healing through faith. The singles ‘Feel Good Music’ and ‘Morning Star’ quickly became a compass for listeners: vibrant groove, raw emotion, direct message. Major radio stations played the tracks by audience request, media quoted the lyrics, and venues were booking her shows months in advance. Over time, she kept moving forward — evolving as an artist and producer, performing live, digging deeper into sound, experimenting with genres. The influence of Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, and The Isley Brothers became recognizable but never defining: she has kept her own voice and delivery.

Sista Soul’s newest album, Soul Reflections, marks a clear next step. At first glance, it might seem like a concept album, but in truth it’s a collection of life observations — about love, memory, the city, time, and her place within it. Soul Reflections lives up to its name from the first note. It’s a record that knows how to hold a mood — not as a trick or a stylistic choice, but as a natural extension of the artist herself. Across twelve tracks, she moves through jazz, soul, and R&B with the ease of someone who isn’t chasing a sound but shaping one. It’s warm, it’s intimate, and it’s clearly made with care and precision.

The album opens with breath. Reflection of Letting Go is a short a cappella piece where Sista Soul gives space to her voice — no instruments, just the rhythm of breathing and inner resonance.

Then it unfolds into Better. Now there’s rhythm, groove, saxophone. The lead vocal leans on layers of backing vocals that rise like a choral response. This track sets the tone for the album’s structure: R&B as the foundation, soul as the atmosphere, jazz as the accent.

Reflection of Love offers a different tone. Sparse, gentle keys create the sense of an evening window — the city breathing outside, while something meaningful unfolds within. Sista Soul’s voice stays calm and restrained, yet full and rich. There’s no need for many words, because the phrasing carries everything. This track pulls you into a replay — just to stay in that sound a little longer.

In With You, the album turns toward the light. The beat sways gently, and an R&B groove settles in, holding a steady warmth to the final bar. It’s a track for those evenings when time stretches just a little longer than usual. Reflection of Fear shifts into a different space. The atmosphere tightens, the sound is more muted, and the lyrics become an inner monologue. It gathers scattered thoughts and shows the strength that comes from observing oneself. The track runs on balance: a dense low end, a precise feel for pauses, and weighted lines. Unplug reaches another level. The harmonies unfold slowly, with the vocal gliding over something fluid. Its purpose is to stay with you — in memory, in the body. And it does.

The final stretch brings Shine Bright and Soul Reflections. Shine Bright blends styles — touches of jazz, gospel, and early-2000s R&B. Everything sounds effortless but is clearly built with precision. The vocal layers merge into a dense flow that holds attention through to the end. The closing track, Soul Reflections, feels like the album finally exhales. It holds everything that makes up Sista Soul: her voice, her sound, her inner force, and all she’s lived through and translated into music. This piece moves beyond genre — the saxophone leads, the bass keeps the ground steady, and the voice… it sounds more like she’s thinking aloud than singing. The ending feels completely alive.

The album leans heavily into the smooth and slow — so if you’re after tempo shifts or sharper contrasts, this might come across as one long exhale. Some tracks, especially in the second half, blur together more than they should, leaning too far into relaxation. But when it lands — on those standout moments where the layers thicken and she lets a little tension creep in — it’s beautiful. Intimate, late-night headphone music. Not for dancing — for reflecting.

Soul Reflections captures the warm evening vibe of a big city; the record lays down velvety keys, caramel bass, and steady grooves, gradually wrapping the listener in a soft haze as one track flows into the next, forming a continuous space for conversation, string lights, and a rich drink.

Sista Soul holds the center of this world with confidence. Her voice moves gently, every melisma precise, every high note filled with intent. She brings her own style while letting soul aficionados catch familiar tones and inviting newcomers straight into the warmth. A fresh take on the genre, carefully tuned dynamics, and an honest delivery place Soul Reflections in the category of albums worth hearing.

*This review was made possible by SubmitHub