The most striking thing about Connecticut’s Amanda Bellitto is the strength of her voice. She has the type of voice that surrounds and washes over you. Her new single, “Haunt” opens with the line, “Take a chance on me.” To be clear, Bellitto’s vocal talent is what we would call “a sure thing” or “a no miss prospect;” there is no chance to take. The question with her is whether or not her musical arrangement and song writing can keep up with her vocal talent.

@amandabellitto_music describes herself as a singer-songwriter who blends folk and jazz (a combination I didn’t realize was so common until I began writing @mvsicthovght). Her soothing arrangement for “Haunt” really leans into the singer-songwriter vibe, with little rays of jazz peaking through the folky clouds. The song is very well put together, allowing her voice to take the spotlight, and offering punctuated accents that compliment it perfectly. Her ear for composition is an appropriate equal to her singing. If she can stay consistent, we should all be in for a treat as she counties to produce new music.

Bellitto often plays shows in the Fairfield area, with her next performance scheduled for February 20th at Bethel’s J. Lawrence Downtown (@jlawrencedowntown). Hopefully “Haunt,” is a sign that she’s ready to transition away from covering songs by other artists and move more into original work. Maybe one day, someone will be covering her hits.