Baker’s voice, and indeed the additional vocal snippets that accompany it, brings listeners a sense of vulnerability & confidence intertwined. It’s as if there’s absolute adoration at work – alongside of a sheer need to create music & express the feeling through art.
Singles
Those of us who remember the simple, spacious & observational artistry of the likes of The Streets & Audio Bullys, will respond to this single from Charlie Steel with a deep level of appreciation for its nostalgic, minimalist aura.
You can hear the musicianship, which is rare in modern electronic music, and at the same time – you can hear the professionalism in the mix & the final polish. The build-up is superb but even when the soundscape gets thick & full – you can still pick out those key characteristics.
The sound is crisp & colorful, and although there are many layers to the soundscape, the original emotion & authenticity of the idea & the human voice have been highlighted at every step. The electronic ambiance takes nothing away from the organic realness & positivity, so you get the best of both worlds.
The lyrics are incredibly poignant, every line is important and says precisely what it means to say. There’s power in this, the power to impact and cause positive change – if only enough people can hear it.
State Royale are walking their own creative pathway, taking hints of influence from various places but essentially sticking to their guns and the intended message and vibe they wish to portray.
Having toured with the likes of Beenie Man & Jimmy Cliff, Mullings’ experience & connection to the arts is unquestionable. On this track, his skills meet with the simple good vibes of the reggae genre, bringing together a free-flowing guitar solo & a lightly uplifting soundscape.
The video & the song work in unison to portray the idea that it’s totally possible, OK, and encouraged, to speak up in the face of bullying. There’s a shared humanity in all of us, and nobody is out of reach or too disconnected to be approached.
What appears at first as a fitting and simple addition to the world’s hip hop, later evolves to be something more of a connection to a thoughtful, skillful individual – something fresh to find solace in.
Some of the most common mistakes we make in life are those which are just so naturally human but that, at the time, make us feel like we’re the only ones going that way. This song addresses issues & recurring negative thoughts in a way that makes you feel part of something, more normal perhaps; less alone.
Young is a gorgeous track, beautifully produced so as to bring in elements of a slightly world-like bounce alongside of those that are a little more electronically soaked. It feels like a beach-side song, one to be shared – one that represents togetherness in every way.
3mind Blight drives with a gritty, perfectly expressive leading voice on this single Rag Doll. The sound falls somewhere between Nine Inch Nails and Rob Zombie, with a flicker of Papa Roach for good measure.