There hasn’t been an RnB or soul singer with something quite so unique and genuine for a while now. Of course you never know what that unique trait will be until you hear it, but this is it; without a doubt.
Singles
The subject matter is clearly something kept close at heart, you witness this roller-coaster-like journey through personal turmoil to acceptance & then back again. The use of contrast within the performance adds dynamic variation to an otherwise smooth & simply hypnotic piece of music.
The intro paves the way with power, the verses fall back a little, then the hook smashes onto the stage with absolute vibrancy & weight. And when you consider the delivery, you genuinely notice & appreciate how effective the singer is at meeting the requirements of each of these moments.
Erick Grant offers music fans a stunning set of vocals, the sort that lean back and forth between the almost whispered and the soulful and mighty – even a little reminiscent of Eddie Vedder.
Almost reaching the five minute mark, this single is one of the most well-crafted & considerate reggae releases of recent years. Yardie is something of a grower, for sure – those classic vibes generally either win you over from the offset or they don’t, but in this case the song grows more entrancing & enjoyable the further along you get.
Phantom Vibrations sees former Awolnation member David Amezcua take a step in a notably new direction. Stranger is a smooth & rather nostalgic indie-pop song, bringing through classic or vintage vibes. It feels fit to accompany a scene in some classic coming of age movie.
Its a subtle & classic feeling, alternative rock hit – and it’s interesting. It intrigues, lyrically & in terms of the build-up. There’s something very mysterious & authentic about that leading voice that delivers things well.
This is original EDM at the dawn of its meeting with the pop vocalists of the world – there’s something smooth & calming about the drop, it’s not intense or overly attention grabbing, it just softly draws you in even more so than before.
Modern songwriting is not confined by industry rules or genre expectations, and that’s a liberating thing when fused with genuine passion and skillful musicianship – as is the case with this band.
The whole thing utilizes these various musical stages to build something emotionally compelling & poignant around the listener. Great songwriting, original & intent on connecting in a pure & powerful way.
Not quite the excessively early seasonal hit you might expect from the title – though it does introduce a few classic Christmas sounds to keep the theme alive. In reality, the track offers a stylish fusion of hip hop & RnB, sounding modern & invitingly fresh.
JRS3 has done well to create something refreshing with this. Instrumentally it works a treat, taking the hip hop sound somewhere new & creative, though with a dash of retro synths & electric guitar – the past & the present meet, along with several genres. An easily memorable & quite addictive hit.