A newly-matured Nikki Leonti hits the scene again after a two-year hiatus. In her self-titled "re-debut," Leonti expresses a hard-won maturity gained from the heartache, stress, and embarrassment of getting pregnant out of wedlock, followed by an immediate wedding to her fiancé. On Nikki Leonti, the album, the singer shares songs she wrote or co-wrote throughout her recent ordeal. Probably most poignant is "Letting Go," a testimonial about self-forgiveness and about finding God's grace, which covers a multitude of sins.
Leonti gets quite candid in her lyrics on the album, and even more so in her bio page at www.nikkileonti.com. Musically, the disc is another well-prepared treat from top producers John and Dino Elefante, Tedd T., and Mooki Taylor, served piping hot. Exploring pop/R&B styles and lovingly crafted ballads, Leonti's voice travels up and down the scales with ease and shines with a quality that says, "This girl has grown up." Songs like "You Won't Leave" carry a Christina Aguilera or Stacie Orrico danceable quality, while "The Direction of You" has a memorable melodic hook in the chorus. There may not be any killer hits, but as a whole the CD is worth a closer look - even if only to see inside the heart of this talented young artist.
While some may find it hard to forgive and forget when a Christian artist is toppled from his or her pedestal, the fact remains that the music Nikki Leonti sings today is a testimony to God's forgiving grace and restoration. Having been humbled in the public spotlight, Leonti now performs with a new outlook on life, music, and ministry, and her new album is a high-quality collection of pop songs which serve as her testimony.
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