STELLA follows the warm reception to her first few singles (“Friends,” “Switch”) by throwing her hat in the ring for best cover of Drake’s ubiquitous “Hotline Bling.” And while there have certainly been a plethora of said covers, STELLA delivers a slightly more nasal version of her signature mysterious sound and sensual vocals, plus a bluesy backing track that separates her take from the pack.
STELLA, daughter of rock god Carlos Santana, definitely has a unique sensibility in her approach to the subject matter here, one that also maintains the angst of Drake’s original, but with more sadness than bitterness. It’s an understated, forlorn performance that stirs up images of a smoky dive bar after hours.
While we wait for the Frankie P-produced “Fumes” and a fuller-length project from STELLA, enjoy her rendition of Drizzy’s latest emo classic.