Uprising Caribbean Neo Soul artist,  Lí-Lí Octave has unveiled her new album, Play on Venus (Live). The 10-track live album compiles original tracks she penned and performed live at the Jazz ‘n Dine 2024 event held at the Intercontinental Dominica Cabrits Resort and Spa. Inspired by the concept of women being from Venus and men being from Mars, the project sees Octave exploring several topics relating to love, loss, emotional control and soul searching from a female perspective.

The project starts with the reflective “Wait (For Your Love)” comprising warm keys, soft grooves and electrifying guitar riffs that light up the chorus section as  Lí-Lí Octave finds an outlet to share her grief for a lover who failed to reciprocate her feelings. Far from feeling sorry for herself, the song captures Lí-Lí Octave’s vocal range and unapologetic songwriting that displays her femininity, strength and confidence to move on her own accord. This is followed by the sultry love ballad “Lay It Down,” which dives into the sensual department with Octave taking charge of all affairs. Over the soft guitar licks, scenic strings and soft pads, she unapologetically asks her lover to lay it down, a euphemism for him to fulfil her intimate desires. Next are “Out Of Place” and “You Scared,” two tracks that dive into matters of the heart from different perspectives. The former is a remarkable tune that talks about two lovers from opposite ends who fall in love but, unfortunately, can’t be together while the latter is a sublime and groovy tune that pokes fun at a lover who is acting weird due to their deceit.  Lí-Lí Octave’s approach is quite engaging and well-thought-out as she calmly confronts the lover with the facts and proof of their infidelity. In “Work Of Art,” she delivers an aspirational and motivational piece that reminds audiences that they have the potential to do great things.

The project closes out with the playful “Mind Your GD Business,” where she warns the brown nosers to back off, and the celebratory “Top Of The World,” where she taps into her feminine frame and inner strength and shows us that she is in her element and nothing can stop her. Other incredible tracks include the enlightening “Grandma’s Kitchen,” where Octave gains some knowledge from her elders, and the candid “Get Off Me,” which explores personal space and need for some much-needed me time. Also, the guitar-driven “Struggling” where Octave talks about her struggles, inner demons and true purpose.  Lines “Sometimes, sometimes, I’m like liquor with no ice, straight up/ and sometimes, sometimes I am pouring the chaser, too much chaser” dive into the non-monolithic feelings of being human and how mood changes can show her under a different light

Overall Play on Venus (Live) lives up to expectations and delivers the goods as live albums are concerned. From the engaging and relatable songwriting, soul-stirring melodies and crowd-gripping live performance, Octave is a seasoned artist in that regard.