MIXTAPE REVIEW: 'Conversational Lush' - Elle Varner

Like many, I ignored Elle Varner’s music when her video for ‘Only Wanna Give It To You’ debuted on BET’s 106 & Park before rediscovering it via her VEVO page online. During these days, we typically find record labels trying to force the same tired, uncreative artist down our throats; however that was not the case with Elle. The 23 year-old California native literally snatched my attention and made me an instant fan once I discovered her ‘Refill’ track on satellite radio.

Words cannot explain the excitement that filled me once I discovered that Elle had released a mixtape last week titled ‘Conversational Lush’. The 13-track album served me definitely what I needed since one of my faves, Solange Knowles, has been procrastinating with her new material.

• Intro
• ‘WTF’ – With acronyms that mean the obvious, I knew that the lead track would instantly become one of my favorites. Elle details her horrible day from finding her man sleeping with another man to getting robbed and having her purse snatched in this mid-tempo song. The beat and story telling definitely made for a fun track.
• ‘Feel Like A Woman’ – I must admit that I am a sucker for songs that reminisce on old school vintage beats. Elle served me an Al Green tease on this track as she explains to her man that whatever he is doing to her causes her to really feel like a woman. ‘Baby you got me saying damn, what a difference between a boy and a man’, she sings. 
• ‘Do You Want To’ – Something about this song made me want to go sit in a lounge and sip a martini. Elle sings about her relationship that has been spiraling out of control which eventually ends with her asking her lover if he ‘really wants to walk away now because the doors are opening wide’.  Can we get an AMEN?
• ‘Refill’ – The original version of this song is so damn good that I was scared she would screw it up by including a ballad version on the mixtape. She slayed and she outdid your fave. I said it. 
• ‘Runaway’ – “Runaway’ is definitely one of the most relatable tracks on the mixtape for me. It details the life of someone that never wants to confront their problems and would rather run from them to pretend as if they aren’t there. 
• ‘Go’ – Love. Love. Love. From the sound of the hand drums that lead the track to her begging her man to stay, ‘Go’ is THAT song. It has been quite a minute since a song from a new artist has captured my attention and repeat button like this. The beat for this track is CRAZY! The place where RETRO meets R&B.
• ‘I Just Can’t’ (Prelude)
• ‘Ghost’ – ‘I don’t wanna fall in love, I don’t wanna fall in love’ is what Elle sings in this Solange vibing track. I would describe ‘Ghost’ as clean-up music being that I will never care to learn the words however I will play it and hum to the beat as if I do.
• ‘EV’ – What do you get when you mix a 90s Jay-Z beat with Elle Varner’s raspy voice? Perfection. EV definitely did Jay’s ‘IZZO (H.O.V.A.) much justice with her remixed lyrics and sickening self harmonizing. Honestly, I did not care for the track a first but it has quickly became one of best on the mixtape.
• ‘So Fly’ – She finally recorded it. After months of finding nothing but live performances of ‘So Fly’ it was much delight to see that she had included the recorded version. Elle talks about what it would take for her to be ‘fly’ in the eyes of others. Love it.
• ’32 Flavors’ – This has nothing to do with rapper Diamond so have a seat. If there was a song to describe my life for the past six months then this would be it. Aside from the catchy beat and hook, this track proved very inspirational to me as Elle encouraged everyone to go for their dreams and not care what anyone else told them that they may or may not be able to do.
• ‘Hang Up’ – The end.

Overall, ‘Conversational Lush’ was a breath of fresh air. The songwriting, beats, and storytelling definitely made for a good mixtape. Quite a few people have said she reminds them of a more polished Chrisette Michelle. We cannot wait for the actual album and hopefully we can nab an interview with Elle when she visits Atlanta on her tour with singer Estelle.

Favorite Song: ‘Go’

Rating: 8 out of 10

Download here.