GENRE | R&B Storytelling

LABEL | Self-released

RELEASE DATE | January 27, 2017

VERDICT | A Political Cover for Grooving

There’s an exceptional amount of artistry required to take an ’80s groove track and turn it into a 2017 social justice anthem. Fortunately for us, singer-songwriter Shea Rose was undaunted by the task. This past friday, Jan. 27th, the Boston native released the titular single of her latest EP, “D.T.M.A. (Dance This Mess Around),” a biting reimagination of the B-52’s carefree club tune. Though the songs share both a title and a synth-driven harmony, Rose’s cover is capable of standing on its own.

Rose opens the track with an homage to another ’80s classic, Dirty Dancing, firmly stating, “You don’t want to put me in a corner.” Grunge-inspired guitar riffs drive the track, giving it a grand sense of boot-stomping urgency. While the tune still retains the original’s feel-good vibe, Rose’s lyrics take a dive into the political, turning a call to shake off heartbreak into a callout for those who attempt to shake off racism.

As the final single of its eponymous EP, “D.T.M.A. (Dance This Mess Around)” comes as a moment of cathartic release; it’s “that final moment of achieving self-acceptance and boldly embracing who you truly are,” Rose states. “Live your life freely and dance this mess around!”