What is taking you so long to notice D.C. songbird Ari Lennox?

Maybe singer/songwriter Ari Lennox is just a tad too soulful. Perhaps it’s her jazzy tones, far mature for a 20-year-old, that wrap themselves delicately around a melody. It could possibly be those exhilarating moments when she belts out from within her petite brown frame that keep you away… or maybe you just need an introduction.

D.C. Soul/Jazz/Rock singer, Ari Lennox

Ari came to my attention last week on one of those early weekday evenings where nothing entertaining is on and BET’s 106th & Park will do. She took the stage as a finalist in the show’s Female R&B competition, sponsored by Coca-Cola, where her performance was followed by two opponents — the last with better stage presence but neither with better voice quality than Ari. Though she would ultimately lose to Toronto’s Linda Luztono, there was something about Ari Lennox that deserved more than a nod or tweet.

What I found is that she’s opened for Wale, performs for showcases at Howard University and recently released her latest project entitled ‘Five Finger Discount.’ The 11-track mixtape encompasses all of her eccentricities — the soul songstress, the afro-jazz musician, and the outspoken young rockstar. From the perils of love, to accepting her beauty — dark skin, wide nostrils and all, Ari presents all of herself.

Don’t take my word for it though, see her perform “Random Heartbreaks” with soulful guitarist David James below and download ‘Five Finger Discount’ here.