California is a gorgeous new single loaded with good vibes and a mellow, infectious groove that sets the scene brilliantly for the summer months.
The song brings together elements of reggae and laid-back ska with something notably more modern and RnB inspired. It’s a smooth and soulful piece that drives with the organic colour and carefree attitude of a simple bass line and some easy going vocals. The opening, leading female vocal has an addictively calm sound to her voice. As well as this though, the switch from the softness to the higher, more passionate moments, is flawlessly executed. Everything pours through with skill and professionalism, but in addition to that, the sound is still mellow and extremely easy to escape into.
The rhythm of the track is a huge part of what makes it work. Production-wise everything stands tall as and when it needs to. There’s a familiarity to the movement, but a freshness to the melody and the overall sound. The second featured vocal opens up the track to an even wider audience and sees the energy fly higher for an added dynamic. All of this plays into how well structured the single is. There are distinct threads throughout that make it incredibly easy to recognise the track from a distance, even after just a single listen. But with this there are still consistent moments of change and evolution that work hard to hold your interest and affection at every step.
A live performance of this across festival stages throughout the rest of 2018 would most probably draw audiences over in an instant. Those good vibes and that crisp, skillful finish makes for something that just works, it brings people together, and it sounds great.
Download the single via iTunes or stream it on Spotify. Find & follow Smooth Blaq on Facebook.
