Rusty Metoyer started playing accordion at age 14 to fill a musical void at family parties after his grandfather’s passing. Nearly a decade later, Metoyer has become one of the bright new lights of zydeco, given his involvement with Sean Ardoin and Andre Thierry’s Creole United and this confident sophomore effort (13 tracks, 12 originals) that’s leaps and bounds beyond his debut Take My Hand.

It’s a bouncy, jangly affair that constantly shifts hues and styles, primarily due to alternating between four accordions and incorporating outside influences, besides the proverbial R&B and hip-hop that’s more of a trademark of his contemporaries. Though the swirling background vocals of “I Still Love You” were inspired by hip-hopper Missy Elliott, there’s also a steel guitar in the background for an innovative combination. Additionally, there are Caribbean-style vocals on the tropically seasoned “Louisiana Summertime” and a chic single-note guitar counterpoint shadowing the accordion lines on the relentless “Set Me Free.”

Several tracks are blazing firestorms (“Hey Rosa,” “Deo-Foyo-B-O”); the uplifting autobiographical title song is a testament to how Metoyer is willing to wait for his time to shine, and to keep paying his dues until then. As evidenced by “If I Was Your Man,” he has grown immensely as a soulful vocalist, making the plea stick with conviction. It’s still dance-intoxicating zydeco but served with tantalizingly fresh snap beans.