Some ladies will fight for a man, but Niecy Blues (aka Janise Robinson) doesn’t have to bother.

She’s got WAYS.

And if you’re a fan of horror and suspense, you’ll love them. “Ways” first premiered at Columbia, SC’s internationally acclaimed Indie Grits Film Festival, so best believe it’s worth the watch.

The video opens well before the song begins, and right away, things are… off. The Meat & Three advertised in a BBQ restaurant parking lot sounds delicious, but a radio evangelist drawls uncomfortably about “how somebody’s not in the Spirit.” Our… protagonist(?) listens to the sermon for an uneasy length of time before heading inside where things only get weirder. The waitress seems forced, the other patrons stare awkwardly and move like animatronics, the lights flicker and then… magic.

A haunting sitar, slowed hip-hop beats, and jazz piano summon our real protagonist to the screen. From somewhere beyond, Niecy Blues manipulates the man she’s lured into her grasp, and us too while she’s at it. She twists her notes in the most unexpected ways, and slips in these soft, subtle harmonies that eventually do start to sound like echoing spells. And she’s effortlessly cool while she does it.

I can’t quite put my finger on who she reminds me of, and maybe that’s because it’s a lot of soulful ladies: Niecy Blues sounds like India Arie, articulates like Jill Scott, and grooves like Erykah Badu. But that’s not a surprise when you think about it. They all spend a lot of time speaking to a woman’s power and divinity, and Niecy’s “Ways” puts her in excellent, and honestly, deserved company.

Just as you’re totally wrapped up in her sound, you’ll discover that you’re not the only one. I won’t give away the video’s ending, but it’s absolutely worth watching until the end to have your questions answered.

At least you’ll make it out alive.

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