Since bursting on the scene with a sound that was both invigoratingly fresh and pleasingly retro, Mia Borders has carved out a space for herself in a New Orleans scene that isn’t always open to both. Her latest album, Firewalker, finds her reaching out to different musicians to support her fine lyrics, melodies and musical vision.

The album opens with a much-hyped collaboration with funk legend George Porter, Jr. “Firewalker” is a co-writer with lyrics from Borders and music by Porter, Jr. and his longtime bandmates Mike Lemmler and Terence Houston. Though I would be crazy to fault her for being proud of the effort and using it as the first single, the cut is far from the best on the album.

Consider for example, the mid-tempo ballad “I Can’t Love You.” The cut just oozes emotion, both from Borders’ impassioned vocals and the scorching bluesy guitar solo. It’s a soul classic right out of the late-night R&B playbook.

Or “The Juice.” This cut kicks off with a blustery sax from Brad Walker, who mirrors Borders’ vocal lines throughout by weaving around the hook-heavy chorus—“Baby you got the juice, and I wanna squeeze, you got that good, good that drops me to my knees.” The melody is irresistible in a sing-along way. I can already hear crowds joining in.

Besides Lemmler and Walker, Borders enlists an eclectic crew of New Orleans musicians who have helped her craft an album that in lesser hands, with more pedestrian lyrics and melodies, might have come off as reductive or even trite.

Drummer Wayne Maureau’s long years with Walter “Wolfman” Washington are a reference point, and guitarist Takeshi Shimmura of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band contributes incandescent solos. Borders also wails vocally throughout, especially on “My Darling Love,” an epic 10th anniversary reworking of the cut.

In essence, this is a statement album from a self-produced artist who has truly found her place among the great songwriters of New Orleans.

Mia Borders