Perfectly Imperfect

Elle Varner’s father, Jimmy Varner, was a producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter who worked with Kool & The Gang, while her mother, Mikelyn Roderick, sang backup for Barry White and Tevin Campbell. Her honest talent as both a singer and songwriter is immediately evident from the opening song of this 2012 debut album. “Only Wanna Give It to You” kicks off Perfectly Imperfect with a hard-grooving R&B jam punctuated by Varner’s soulful grit. The following “Refill” shows more creativity, with looped country fiddle and stuttering snare drum garnishing a seductive serenade as Varner wails like a younger Macy Gray (with Keyshia Cole’s range). When her voice breaks up and she pulls back with restraint, Varner exposes her vulnerability. She gives songs like “Not Tonight” and “So Fly” an indelible human touch; the former is a gripping slow jam about feeling insecure and unconfident in the presence of a deep crush, while the latter muses on body self-image issues.