A Genre-Bending Single from Jonni Slater
A brand new release from Jonni Slater delivers a sort of soiree of pop approaches that range from theatrical and cinematic to jazz and rock oriented, and I love that blend of styles because it's very unique, outside the box, exciting, and has this experimental underbelly that drives it all.
"Super" is a piano-driven track, but it does have this sort of edginess to it that's not over the top, but instead balanced really well with the rest of the lush instrumentation that comes through on the song as a whole.
This has a unique and forward-moving flow to it, but also has this outside-the-box tonality, and this has to do with the production of the track, for the most part.
The way this song is put together is brilliant because it's got color, tons of character, and blends in that element of edginess and excitability along with all of that.
At the start of the song, it's a bit more stripped down so you can pay attention to the vocals, but this also allows the song to build.
A deep-rooted piano and some background effects are mainly what you hear along with the vocals at the start, but that grows into a more full-bodied feel as the song unfolds.
One of the things I love about this track is the actual piano riffs. I love being able to use the word riff when it comes to a piano because it's not often that you get to.
This track has some outstanding piano riffs that help it stand out.
You can hear the elements of contemporary, pop, jazz, but also those rock elements in there too, so it has this robust feel to it and a soundscape that is built with fewer boundaries than what you may be used to, which was completely refreshing for me.
Another thing that pulled me in was the percussion. The drum beat here crosses an element between jazz and electronic. It feels like it's a jazz beat, but I can't tell if it's actually live drums, which I actually like better.
I love listening to a song and not exactly being able to put my finger on certain elements. It leaves a little air of mystery, and it makes my mind wonder how this was put together and composed.
You definitely get that cinematic feel, as I mentioned earlier. There is an essence of adventure, and again, that sort of excitement that the piano riffs and energy overall give off throughout the song.
This genre-bending approach is something that I found a little rejuvenating, to be honest.
It's like he took a cinematic rock track, made it more theatrical, and used a piano instead of a guitar.
Such a cool idea, and just the way it was built and how it flows is something that becomes quickly infectious.
The vocals are excellent here because they don't take away from anything. They're right on the forefront, they are a little bit colorful, they definitely have some warmth to them, and deliver memorable melodies, but they don't pull away from the music or composition of the song.
The overall energy of all components in this song is so well balanced and so good.
It just has a bright and sort of vivacious feel to it, which is addicting, and the lyrics, along with the way you perform the vocals, are really what give it its character.
I'm not giving away the entire track, but I can tell you it is a very character-driven song, and when you listen to it, you'll pick up on exactly what I mean.
So, that mix of warmth but a little bit of edginess, lots of fun and excitable approaches, vibrant and avant-garde soundscapes makes for something that has its own atmosphere.
This is a track that serves as a little 3-minute escape from your day-to-day.
I loved going on this mini musical journey and how the song definitely sticks with you for hours after it's ended.
Everything picks up as the song goes on. That energy level rises along with the intensity of how the instruments are being performed.
The drums come through a little heavier and harder with more open ride symbols, the guitars come in and add a little funk undertone, pianos are played a little heavier, and the vocals become anthemic, and this gives the entire song such a full-bodied vibe.
This was an awesome single and definitely something I'll be listening to at least a few more times today.
I can say this is for anyone who digs unique pop approaches that blend other genres in at free will and breaks down a few walls during the process.
But don't just take my word for it. Listen to this track right now and see exactly what I'm talking about.
