Chiedza has the city seeing Red

When R. Kelly goes off on vibrato and melisma tangents while singing about a woman’s “booty,” it usually sounds kind of silly. But in a song called “Inebriation,” Albany, Ga., native Chiedza (pronounced kee-ED-za) puts his own vocal theatrics on that same word. And somehow he pulls it off by managing to convey creative silliness more than syrupy sleaze.

A sense of humor is only part of Chiedza’s musical buffet, which includes everything from fluffy songs with catchy hooks and playful guitar riffs to meaningful lyrics with complicated chord progressions and soothing bass lines.

On his latest CD, In the Red, Chiedza writes, arranges, sings and plays all instruments. He describes his songs as “life music,” full of something everyone can relate to and a sound difficult to pigeonhole.

“I grew up on rock, jazz, classical, R&B and even country,” he says. “Where I come from, we all get down like that. I feel that music should be that way. It shouldn’t be in cookie-cutter mode.”

A musician since he was 7, Chiedza debuted with Expressions of Art, which became a local hit in Albany a few years back. That’s when Chiedza decided to move to Atlanta. “Albany is a small town, and it has a lot of talent,” he says, “but you can only go so far there.”

Since writing and recording the 18-track In the Red, Chiedza has managed to score on-air performances on V-103 and Hot 97.5, and appeared on Ed McMahon’s new “Star Search”-type show, called “Next Big Star.” He also was named the Georgia Music Industry Association’s Songwriter of the Year.

The budding star takes his success with a mix of humility and excitement. “It’s good to know people are feeling me like that,” he says. “It’s a huge honor to be recognized for my work.”????Chiedza plays Eddie’s Attic Wed., Jan. 23, and Thurs., Jan. 24.??