(Globe Staff Photo / Dina Rudick)

Don't expect a shy, retiring night of music from Andrea Gillis. "I like the primal side," she says. Gillis, who has been knocking people out with the power of her voice, adds, "I like to get up there and sing from the gut and scream."

The South Boston native has been churning up emotions with her new album, "Want Another?" It's a rock-'em, sock-'em mix of R&B, soul, and punky garage-rock that defies categorization -- just the way she likes it.

"People make a record today and all the songs sound the same," she says. "But years ago there were more records that blended rock and soul and ballads and rootsy songs. I saw the Ray Charles movie ["Ray"] and remembered how he did everything from gospel to soul and country. That's what impressed me."

Gillis's all-time favorite singer is Etta James. "Her album 'Etta James Rocks the House' is definitely the best live record ever," Gillis says of the 1964 recording. "And what I like about Etta is that she also sang a lot of men's songs, by people like Otis Redding. And she also did a beautiful job on standards."

For her new album, Gillis, 30, co-wrote some numbers (two each with bandmates Andrea Gaudette and Tony Goddess) and covered tracks by Boston tunesmiths including Natalie Flanagan, Jed Parish, "Skinny" Mike Feudale of the Coffin Lids, and Evan Shore of Muck and the Mires.

Nearly 20 Boston musicians play on the album. "We've got Asa Brebner on it and Melissa Gibbs [of Heavy Stud] and Michelle Paulhus [of the Dents]," Gillis says. "And Ed Valauskas [of the Gentlemen] produced it. I decided, 'Hey, I'm paying for it myself, so I'll do what I want to do.' "

LENGTH OF TIME PERFORMING: Seven years professionally. Her previous band was Red Chord. MUSICAL INFLUENCES: Etta James, Rolling Stones, various Motown artists, and Led Zeppelin. WHO SHE THINKS SHE SOUNDS LIKE: "I've listened to her enough, so I'd have to say Etta James." SHE'LL KNOW SHE'S MADE IT WHEN: "My grandmother knows my songs." QUIRKY FACT ABOUT HER: "When I was 18 or 19, I'd get free cab rides because I'd sing like Billie Holiday for the drivers."

- STEVE MORSE