If England has Corrine Bailey Rae, then Germany may very well be claiming Ayo as their most recent folk-soul chanteuse.

Ayo. One name is enough for this solo artist whose music is as well versed as she is traveled. The 27-year-old singer and songwriter, who was born in Germany to a Nigerian father and a gipsy mother, has spent most of her life traveling and writing music in search of personal identity.

This search can easily be found in Ayo’s music. Her debut album “Joyful,” which is the English translation of her Yoruba-rooted first name, reflects upon her journey through life and her struggle to find love and self awareness through past relationships and heartbreaks.

With songs like “Down on My Knees,” Ayo expresses a sense of anguish over a lost love and a broken heart. “Have you forgot about / All the things / We’ve been through / She was not the one / Who was there for you / See, I loved you unconditionally / I gave you even more than / I had to give / … Down on my knees / I’m begging you.”

In this song Ayo tries to capture the pain of being replaced by another, but as the song progresses her voice which starts out soulful and heartfelt turns to a sour note and it sounds as though the songstress is doing more whining than she is singing.

Sure, breakups are tough and she gets that point across loud and clear, but there’s no need to whine about it especially when the music and lyrics sound more convincing when accompanied by the soft tones and utterances Ayo adds at the songs introduction.

Despite some bouts of whining, Ayo is able to save her songs with airy, whisper-like harmonies that gently soothe the ear, heart, and mind. And to reaffirm that she’s lived through each moment she sings of, Ayo decorates her music with lyrical tinges of pain and frustration rising from the pit of her stomach.

One has to give Ayo credit on Track 5 (“And it’s Supposed to be Love”) for her ability to sound endearing and lighthearted as she sings: “Body slam your partner down / Fill’em with regret / Who knows what the end will be / It ain’t over yet / And it’s supposed to be love / Yes, it’s supposed to be love/ Well, it’s supposed to be love / Say ’cause it’s all ’cause of love.”

Her record company also plugs “Help is Coming” as a featured track on “Joyful.” This song has the potential to adhere to a variety of interpretations, but perhaps Ayo is using her craft to convey mixed feelings about her drug-addicted mother who left a six-year old Ayo, her sister and two brothers to live with their father.

Despite her mother’s battle with substance abuse, Ayo remained in contact with her and it was during this time that the young girl turned to music — even teaching herself to play the guitar — as a way to find a voice to carry her pain.

After knowing this part of Ayo’s past, it’s difficult not to think of the singer and her mother’s relationship when she mixes soul and reggae tones with “Your lifestyle could be so different/ From how it is right now/ Know that you could change so many things / If only you want that/You should know it can’t never be too late / Just get up and try / And if you fall and wonder why / Just try another time / But don’t give up to fight.”

This sounds like a daughter’s love/hate relationship with a mother she cares for immensely, but can’t stand seeing as she wastes away on drugs.

As the CD carries on, Ayo’s voice permeates through each song making all 12 Tracks worth a listen regardless of the mood you’re in or the mood you’re seeking. “Joyful” is a bittersweet album mixed with subtle harmonies and melancholy melodies that yearn for the kind of peace and comfort listeners can only hope Ayo will find by the end of Track 12.

If you happen to find “Joyful” under your tree this Christmas, give it a listen. The album may not be a diamond, but it’s definitely no lump of coal.

Lana Saipaia can be reached at [email protected]