The beautiful vocals on California Sunset mark Art Auré out as an exceptional and singular vocalist. Reminding me of (and I can’t quite believe I’m writing this) nothing short of a hybrid of Beyoncé and Michael Jackson – the vocals rightly take centre stage and portray all sorts of colours and shapes on their journey through this spacious, accomplished song.
Breathy vocal pads and syncopated guitar, drums and bass mark out the flavours of California Sunset’s backing track with subtlety and style.
But we start with a vocal arrangement reminiscent of The Beatles’ blend of voices on Because, and then the chords are stylishly picked out on acoustic guitar with lots of organic string and fret sounds to illustrate the human touch, which is as integral to this production as the tasteful electronic instrumentation.
Then come synth pads and, low in the mix, some electric guitar. A vocal that might have come from Bey’s If I Were A Boy sessions takes us tenderly by the hand and leads us through an intimate and touchingly intense listening experience. The vocal builds to exhibit little breaks and cracks of emotion that only enhance the experience. The vocal pads wash back in and out to warm and comfort as we go.
The vocal range on display is highly accomplished, ranging from surprisingly low and intimate to fresh and impassioned, and the different vibrato speeds and incredibly elastic control are also extremely impressive.
It’s definitely going to be worth watching (and listening) to see what this artist’s going to do next.
Download or stream the single here. Find & follow Art Auré on Facebook & Instagram.
