Emma Donovan is one of Australia’s most acclaimed soul singers, wielding her aching, expansive voice to chronicle her experiences as a Gumbaynggirr and Yamatji woman. Take Me to the River sees Donovan reinterpret songs from some of the most iconic Black singers in history. The bookending tracks offer strong themes of water and healing, from the opening Al Green classic to an uplifting closer—the late Australian activist Archie Roach’s “Wash My Soul in the River’s Flow.” Others are strongly tied to the American civil rights movement, including the folk standard “Eyes on the Prize,” Sam Cooke’s perennially powerful “A Change Is Gonna Come,” and The Staple Singers’ gospel-forged “Freedom Highway.” Donovan’s emotive vocal delivery is well served by her song selections here, with the singer inhabiting two songs each by Aretha Franklin and Ann Peebles—as well as the family-centered Bill Withers ballad “Grandma’s Hands.” Accompanied by a cast of musicians including guitarist Ben Edgar (Gotye, Gurrumul) and bassist David Symes (Boy & Bear), Donovan leans into soul music while incorporating some blues and country too. Doubling as a multidisciplinary live show that draws upon her family life and other personal details, this album is much more than a tasteful covers record: it’s a resounding statement of artistic identity and purpose.