Album: Carry On, May 2024
Can’t Miss Tracks: Carry On, Walking Shoes, The Blues Sometimes, Motherless Child
The title track of Carry On is more than just a song – it’s a heartfelt moment, a musical passing of the torch from father to daughter. In this duet, blues legend Johnny Rawls invites his daughter, Destini Rawls, to carry on the rich tradition of blues and soul music, a genre that’s been his life’s work. What becomes immediately clear is that Destini is more than up for the challenge. She’s got the vocal chops, the rhythm, and the soulful presence to take the mantle of this beloved genre and make it her own.
For the next nine tracks, Destini does exactly that. With her father’s band backing her, including renowned musicians like Johnny Rawls and Kid Anderson on guitar, Donny Mederos on bass, Nic Clark on harmonica, and June Core on drums, she leads the way through a set of blues songs written by her father. Destini’s voice is at the forefront – full of power, tenderness, and sass – delivering a range of classic blues themes, from independence and self-respect to the struggles of love and the joys of personal freedom.
The songs she sings speak to universal experiences, whether it’s reflecting on the resilience needed to walk away from a bad relationship or celebrating the simple pleasures of escaping the hustle of city life for the tranquility of the country. There’s a theme of strength in her lyrics – about women standing up for themselves and knowing their worth. But even in the face of hardship, there’s joy, and it’s woven through every note she sings.
Perhaps the most striking moment on the album comes at the close, with the haunting “Motherless Child,” where the band steps back and allows Destini to sing a raw, unaccompanied solo. It’s a breathtaking display of her vocal talent and emotional depth, showing that this isn’t just another blues album – it’s a testament to her journey as an artist and a woman.
Destini’s connection to the blues runs deep, rooted in her childhood. Born in the ’70s in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she grew up in a musical family where blues was more than just a genre; it was a way of life. From a young age, she was surrounded by legendary blues figures such as O.V. Wright, Bobby Blue Bland, Otis Clay, and Bobby Rush. These influences shaped her sound, which would later captivate audiences around the world.
Her father, Johnny Rawls, an iconic bluesman in his own right, was her first mentor. “I was told that when I was three years old, I was humming the melody to a song my father was playing on his guitar,” Destini recalls. As a young girl, she would watch her dad and his fellow blues musicians jam in their living room, soaking up the sounds and arrangements that would later inform her own music. She learned that music was not just about performing – it was about feeling, storytelling, and connection.
Throughout her childhood, Destini attended Piney Woods Country Life School in Mississippi, where she continued to hone her craft. This experience helped shape the unique vocal style that has become her trademark: a velvet-smooth voice with just the right touch of sass and soul. After high school, she joined her father on tours across the globe, performing in Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, and the U.S. She may have been just 18 when she first stepped on stage with Johnny, but it was clear that the stage was where she was meant to be.
Although Destini had to pause her musical career for a time to pursue a degree in nursing – at the request of her mother – she never lost her passion for the blues. Her love for music never waned, and she always found time to attend “blues parties,” where she could unwind and reconnect with her true passion. It was on one of these trips, during the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise to Aruba, that she had an epiphany. Surrounded by the energy of the blues community, it became clear that the time had come for her to fully embrace her destiny as a blues artist.
Now, with a wealth of experience and more soul than ever before, Destini Rawls is ready to share her music with the world. With Carry On, she’s not just honoring her father’s legacy; she’s building her own path in the blues world. This album is a celebration of family, tradition, and the power of music to heal and connect. Destini’s journey, from the living room jams of her childhood to the global stages of today, is just beginning – and we’re all invited along for the ride.
Destini Rawls is the future of blues, and with Carry On, she proves that the torch has been passed with pride, and the blues is in good hands.
