Female artists have been known to be associated with the pop, country and alternative genres. Danielia Cotton, however, has such a powerful voice and mastery of the electric guitar that she slides easily into the rock category.

Born and raised in a small town near Hopewell, New Jersey, Daniela grew up being one of seven black kids to attend her high school. Her father left the family at a very young age, leaving Cotton to grow up with her mother, a relatively famous jazz singer. Never knowing the sounds of hip-hop or R&B, she was drawn to the rock sound of artists like AC/DC and Judas Priest. Later she went to college in Vermont, focusing on theater to pursue her other dream of being an actor.

For several years she worked on and off the Manhattan stage gaining critical acclaim for her acting capabilities as well as her screen debut in the movie "Fresh." Her love and passion for music never died, and she soon dropped her theater career to hone her vocal and guitar skills. Cotton played in clubs and bars around Manhattan before finally recruiting producer Kevin Salem. His lyrical and musical talents impressed Danielia and together they created her first album, Small White Town.

"His production has a depth and a sense and a feel that I knew was the same as mine. I knew he would get me," said Danielia on her media website.

A beautiful black woman, Cotton has an edge against most because her face compliments her amazing vocal stylings. The album is filled with rock influences, but doesn't forsake jazz, blues and gospel influences — making it dynamic and soulful to listen to. The power of her voice and her ability to convey emotion through lyrics make her first album a stunning success.

The first track on the album, "Devil in Disguise," has pounding drums and fast paced electric guitar flowing through the entirety of the song. Her voice is spine-chillingly strong, yet finely tuned, making her seem more like a gospel singer lost in the tunes of a rock song. As she belts out "You're making me wanting to commit a crime / Just to silence you / Cause you're the devil in disguise," background singers compliment her tenor voice. The song picks up more strength with increasingly loud drums and guitar showing the true rocker inside her.

The next track, "Fast," combines her rock sensibilities with blues and gives the song an upbeat feel with a melodious sound. Her voice is softer and more harmonious. The drums are not as prevalent on this track, but the electric guitar, while less harsh than the previous track, still adds something to the more sensitive sound of her voice. When she sings, "I like really fast cars" her voice picks up in volume and although she isn't really singing any words later on, she shows the skill of her voice and the control she has over it, showing just how truly talented she is.

In "Take my Heart," the gospel influence is clear. The beat is slow and the guitar takes more of a background role, upstaged by Danielia's amazing voice. A jazz sound can also be heard on this track thanks to the piano and cymbals that are lightly brushed in the background. When she sings the chorus "Take my heart / Oh, oh oh," she sings with a few other women, and together they create a beautifully solemn tune. The guitar heard in the background adds to the beauty of Danielia's masterful voice, which spans several octaves. Her voice is so well controlled but so commanding at the same time that listeners are left in awe.

The variety of Cotton's songs and the magnificence of her voice and lyrics make Small White Town a true listening experience. She slams into the rock world without holding back — there is no question that she is a rock and roll artist, one that can mix it up a little, but always stay true to the world that is rock.

Grade: A