POP MAGAZINE » Reviews

Review: Jon Batiste – World Music Radio

Pop Magazine — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:25:28 +0000

Jon Batiste is one of the most renowned artists to come out of Louisiana in the last 20 years. Having worked with legends like Stevie Wonder, Prince, and Ed Sheeran, Batiste has made a name for himself as a bandleader, songwriter, and above all, an incredible pianist. His recent album, “World Music Radio”, is a massive, 21-song work spanning several genres and packing in some of the most impressive credits and features on an R&B/pop album in recent years. The radio-format concept of the album (think The Weeknd’s “Dawn FM”) lets the album go places that would otherwise feel nonsensical – the first ten songs on the album reach into genres from Latin urban to jazz and boast features including JID, NewJeans, and Rita Payes. This is a fun exploration of the album’s concept but feels like it misses an opportunity to really delve into each of those genres in a deeper way.

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The first half of the album feels almost like a collaborative work with Jon Bellion and, although Bellion’s expert songwriting levels up the songs to a specific style, it does feel a little restricted. “Be Who You Are”, for example, feels thoroughly baked into the Bellion pop template instead of letting JID and NewJeans do what they are known for and bring experimental elements to their genres at the highest level.

The second half of the album, notably with less input from Bellion, has more variety and feels more authentic to Batiste as an artist. It loses the World Radio concept a little, feeling jarring when the radio host returns on “Goodbye, Billy Bob” after 13 tracks of forgetting about it, but otherwise carries more of the creative quality one would expect from a Jon Batiste project.

Aside from the turbulent feeling of the album and the concept that feels like it distracted from the music behind the scenes, the highs are truly incredible and the lows are still pretty great. “Wherever You Are”, for example, is a good song but it just does not stand out alongside the 20 other tracks. “Calling Your Name”, in a similar vein, feels like mediocre pop alongside genuinely emotional and inventive tracks like “Call Now (504-305-8269)” or “Master Power”.

The production across the album is immaculate but sometimes lacks some creative flair. Every single track is perfectly mixed (as one would expect from both Manny Maroquin and KQuick) and skillfully recorded but there are some places where it could have benefitted from a slightly more raw sound (“My Heart”, for example). The sound throughout the album subtly emphasizes mixing digital sample use and live instrumentation though, in the best way, the flawless execution almost prevents it standing out as an approach. Finally, it would be a mistake not to point out the unique and confident style of Kassa Overall’s production on “Boom For Real”. Heavy distortion and digital clipping on the drums really set the track apart in texture when compared to the rest of the album.

“Butterfly” stands out as an emotional insight into Batiste’s musical expression while “Chassol” and “Movement 18’ (Heroes)” paint a beautiful picture of Batiste’s cultural origins in Louisiana. “Life Lesson” does a great job of balancing Lana Del Rey’s sound with Batiste’s own. The track that truly steals the show, however, is “Uneasy” with Lil Wayne. The songwriting and textures create vivid imagery and emotions and Lil Wayne’s vocals mixed with Batiste’s live keys and programmed drums is unique and feels like two Louisiana legends doing what they do best.

From an overview, the album is a little messy and the concept does not hold together as much as it could have. From a more track-to-track perspective, the album is full of tight production, beautiful mixing, and inspired songwriting, even reaching above and beyond to occasionally offer creative genius and musical extravagance.

Written by Sebastian Sheath for Pop Magazine

Author’s rating for World Music Radio

Pop Magazine’s official rating for World Music Radio

Rating key
MASTERPIECE a must-have
SUPERB for heavy rotation
EXCELLENT a great achievement
VERY GOOD a respectable result
GOOD worth checking out
FAIR an average outcome
WEAK not convincing stuff
BAD an underwhelming effort
VERY BAD quite a waste
FAIL a total failure

Review: Acantha Lang – Beautiful Dreams

Pop Magazine — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 20:08:27 +0000

Soul singer Acantha Lang’s first full-length album, “Beautiful Dreams”, dropped last week, finally seeing her statement debut in a collection of songs mixing new releases with tracks that have been out for months or even years. Lang was raised in New Orleans and started her musical career in New York, working with some of the city’s most renowned session musicians and earning a position as the first female MC of The Box. This led her to a residency at The Box’s sister club in London, where she has been living and working on recording this album. Despite her international career, “Beautiful Dreams” feels like it comes straight from the golden era of soul, immediately bringing to mind comparisons to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, and, from a more modern perspective, Menahan Street Band.

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From an overview, the vocal performance and instrumentation all across the album are immaculate. The backing vocals stand out as anchoring the album to the genre where some elements of the production and songwriting feel a little more modern and the variety of songs makes the project feel varied enough that it stays interesting for the almost hour-long run across 13 tracks.

The second track, “Come Back Home” shows off Acantha Lang’s songwriting and vocal skills and stands out as an energetic production across the board. Meanwhile, “Eventually” feels intimate, with tightly placed instrumentation that brings a nice variety to the album. Then, on another end of the spectrum, “River Keep Runnin’” shows the openness to break the mould of the genre and bring in some blues-rock guitar and the extended version of “Ride This Train” is indulgent and fun, giving a break from some of the more serious tracks on the album.

On the other side of the work, there are a couple of points that feel like missed opportunities to pull the album up a level. The title track, “Beautiful Dreams” is a perfect example of how some of the songs feel a little flat compared to her best songs. They seem a little overcompressed and overproduced where songs in the world of soul typically would see a lot of dynamic variety and a roomy feel that make it sound more live and natural.

Occasionally, some of the songwriting feels lacking though it might simply appear this way because tracks like “He Said / She Said” and “Come Back Home” are so brilliant that they overshadow any weaker tracks. “Lois Lang”, for example, feels like it is trying to convey a world and story but just doesn’t quite live up to what it is trying to do. In a similar vein, “A Word From My Mamma” is a nice interlude to break up the album but doesn’t hit as hard as it could have had it been a little less scripted.

Despite the inclusion of a few songs which trail behind in comparison to the quality of the best tracks on the album, “Beautiful Dreams” is a great debut project that Acantha Lang should be truly proud of.

Written by Sebastian Sheath for Pop Magazine

Author’s rating for Beautiful Dreams

Pop Magazine’s official rating for Beautiful Dreams

Review: Desmond The Songwriter – Another Guess Coming

Pop Magazine — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 09:51:07 +0000

After his nomination for Emerging Artist Of The Year at the Pop Awards 2021 as a result of his unique debut album, “Happiness Is Priceless”, Desmond The Songwriter was inspired to start working on his sophomore project. Today, his new labor of love, titled “Another Guess Coming”, will be out for everyone to hear! Desmond The Songwriter, who is originally from Kingston, Jamaica, resides in New York City. He describes his music as a hybrid of reggae and soul. His beats come with a feel-good vibe and a lot of saxophone. His voice is soothing and his lyrics are diverse. He sings about love, peace, and community. I could definitely see myself in a dark bar moving my body to these tunes.

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The second song on the album, called “Song Of Solomon (Tonsil Hockey)”, is a love song with a dash of humor. I found myself dancing from the minute the music started. The lyrics are catchy: “But for now won’t you play tonsil hockey with me / All I wanna do is lay, I wanna lay by your side all night and day / On your chest of milk and honey, honey / But for now won’t you just play tonsil hockey with me”. The song is sweet, and I definitely loved the beat!

The third song, “Mary Jane”, is not what I was expecting when I read the title. My first thought was that every artist seems to have a song about marijuana these days, but this song is different. This song touches on life without “Mary Jane” and how he gets happiness out of being with family, exercising, and reading. This is ultimately break-up song with “Mary Jane” to live a happier, healthier, and more fulfilled life. This song feels almost therapeutic, and shows deep self-awareness.

My favorite song from the album is the seventh track, “#jamaicansbelike”. It’s a song about hope, strength, and accomplishments of the Jamaican people. It is about faith. It shows how much Desmond loves his country and his roots. He shows so much pride for his people as he sings about praying for problem children, going to church, living like brothers and sisters, dancing, and overall happiness. This song is so pure, and full of joy and happiness!

“Cellphone” is another meaningful song. It’s about how immersed we are in our phones that we ignore the people around us. Cellphones and social media are addicting and can definitely ruin relationships if we aren’t careful. The lyrics got me thinking about my own relationships, and that we all should try to be more present. Desmond sings, “Sometimes I wanna be your cellphone / I can see you love it very much / Please, oh please, let me be your cellphone / I’m missing your touch”. It shows the pain that someone who is addicted to technological devices can cause.

A lot of the lyrics on this album are deep. Desmond The Songwriter has the innate ability to be funny, but also serious at the same time. The way he uses symbolism in his lyrics is pretty genius. The songs are definitely written from the heart. Some of them made me want to move my feet, while others made me stand still and reflect. The backup singers gave me a Charlie’s Angels feel with their wispy voices. “Another Guess Coming” is an album you can listen to again and again.

Written by Andrea Lorfel

Andrea is a freelance writer, wife and mother who loves to spend time with her family, but also loves to go out and have fun! She enjoys reading and writing poetry and finds great pleasure in any and all literature including reading song lyrics.

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Review: Raye – My 21st Century Blues

Pop Magazine — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 08:09:19 +0000

While messing around at a friend’s party at age 14, Rachel Keen a.k.a. Raye, had her first encounter with drugs, getting high from second-hand smoke, an experience which led her to write the song “Hotbox” – and she got discovered. Since then, Raye has made a name for herself in the pop, dance, and R&B world. She appeared on hit songs with producers like David Guetta and wrote songs for stars like Beyonce. In 2020, Raye released the mini-album “Euphoric Sad Songs” before departing her label. As an indie artist, Raye finally dropped her first full-length record, “My 21st Century Blues”. The music is catchy and the lyrics tell a story. The genre may be pop, but there’s a whole lot of blues in this album.

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The lead single, “Hard Out Here”, is about how hard it is to work in a world run by white men. It is about men trying to control Raye and her creativity. “On my way out, figured a way out, figured a way out / My pen is a gun, pen is a gun, I’m finna spray now / He said I was out, said I was done, look at his face now”, Raye sings and continues, “All the white men CEOs, fuck your privilege / Get your pink chubby hands off my mouth, fuck you think this is? / I told my lawyer stand by, there is no wrath like a woman scorned”. I have to wonder if this song is about Raye leaving Polydor Records to go independent.

Raye’s hit single “Escapism” featuring 070 Shake is a song about addiction. It is about ways to escape one’s life using drugs, alcohol, and sex. It is deep and sad, but also cathartic. “I don’t wanna feel how I did last night / Doctor doctor, anything, please / Doctor doctor have mercy on me / Take this pain away / You’re asking me my symptoms, doctor, I don’t wanna feel”. This is about self-medicating in any way possible to escape both the good and the bad. It is about being numb in one’s body and soul.

“Ice Cream Man” is Raye’s story about sexual objectification by men throughout her life, which many women and girls unfortunately can relate to. She sings about all different stages in her life, and how it took a long time to understand consent, because she had never been able to give consent herself. “Cause I’m a woman / I’m a very fucking brave, strong woman / And I’ll be damned if I let a man ruin how I walk, how I talk, how I do it”, she sings and continues, “I was seven, was twenty-one, was seventeen, and was eleven / It took a while to understand what my consent means / If I was ruthless they would be in the penitentiary / But all the stress of being honest wouldn’t help me / I push it down, but it was livin’ in me rent-free / And then I fell into some things that were unhealthy / A place where no one heard me asking them to help me”.

This whole album tells a story of a strong female. So many women can relate to these lyrics. The album tells a story of struggle, but you will not struggle to dance it out!

Written by Andrea Lorfel

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Review: Gentleman – Mad World

Pop Magazine — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 14:45:37 +0000

Gentleman has been on the reggae scene since the late 90s, after discovering his love for the genre during several trips to Jamaica. The singer from Germany has since proven that, although he was born on the wrong side of the world, his talent as a reggae artist is unstoppable. He has collaborated with some of the greats, such as Richie Stephens, Bounty Killer, The Maytals, and Ky-Mani Marley, son of the reggae legend Bob Marley. Gentleman’s credentials speak for themselves, and he has now released “Mad World”, his newest album. True to his roots, Gentleman sings twelve tracks that will delight fans of the genre. The cool rhythm of reggae mixed with elements of pop and dance, the thoughtful lyrics, and his beautiful voice invite us for a journey within ourselves, via the Caribbean.

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The second track of the album, “Over The Hills”, is the quintessential reggae song. The swaying and catchy rhythm has this unmistakable ability to make us want to relax on the beach and dance the night away at the same time, while its lyrics invite us to take a good look at our lifestyle: “I got to find me some peace of mind / Over di hills and valleys me a climb / Oh, where di rules are still defined / By nature, yeah”. In the same movement, he takes a swipe at the star system: “Tired a di city where di gunshots ringing / Hype after hype a where the artists blinging / Soul a run dry, me need some refilling, alright”.

“Jah Only” almost reads as a homage to Gentleman’s origins. The son of a pastor has always put his faith at the center of his music. The last track of the album feels like listening to a preacher with a Planter’s Punch in our hand: “God alone a put me higher deh / So me always send a prayer deh / And me still a bun a fire deh / No me nuh appear upon dem flyer deh”. The song is more thoughtful than the other tracks of the album, as if inviting us for a moment of meditation and communion.

The stand-out track of the album is the titular song “Mad World”. Originally written and performed by Tears For Fears in 1982, the song has been covered by many artists over the years, yet Gentleman still managed to make it his own. Blending pop and reggae rhythms, the singer puts his own twist on the lyrics while keeping the spirit of the song: “Say, we livin’ in a mad world / Look how much time they try to get us out / It must be a sad world / Everytime we do good, they come with a lot of doubt”. This song is an indictment of the rat race, and Gentleman has managed to say it in his own voice.

While the album “Mad World” is not very innovative, it is a musical effort with several highlights that make it worth giving it a good listen. Fans of Gentleman and the genre of reggae at large can enjoy some quality music, and those who are tired of the daily grind might find a relaxing tropical break for a few songs.

Written by Camille Hourtane

Camille is a bilingual freelance writer with an unending passion for storytelling. She writes pieces in English and in French, with an emphasis on food/travel/society articles and fantasy/gothic/supernatural stories. She likes nothing more than to explore new places, whether in body or in mind.

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Review: Meghan Trainor – Takin’ It Back

Pop Magazine — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 12:35:31 +0000

Since she stomped to the top of the charts with her body-positive hit single “All About That Bass” in 2014, Meghan Trainor has successfully experimented with several musical genres, from R&B and hip-hop on her album “Thank You”, to dance-pop on her album “Treat Myself”. She has now come up with her latest LP, “Takin’ It Back”, and as its title suggests, it’s a throwback to the doo-wop of her major label debut, the multi-Platinum-certified “Title”. Meghan Trainor has called the new album her “Title 2.0”. With “Takin’ It Back”, she returns to her roots, to the mix of pop, doo-wop, and the popular genre of the 50s that made her fall in love with music and consequently made the rest of the world fall in love with Meghan Trainor.

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Her new album revisits themes that are close to her heart: body positivity, womanhood, independence, the impact of social media, self-confidence, and love. She has talked about these themes in previous albums, of course. But on “Takin’ It Back”, the singer does it from a new point of view, with a new maturity. As a married woman and a mother, she has evolved, and even if the themes and genre of “Title” are still meaningful to her, her music and lyrics have evolved with her.

With her album’s first single, “Bad For Me”, Trainor tackles the heavy and difficult subject of toxic, unhealthy love, particularly when it comes to family members. In an emotional duet with Teddy Swims, the blue-eyed soul song sounds like a real-life story. The touching lyrics don’t shy away from the reality of such a relationship: “Please don’t make promises that you can’t keep / Your best intentions end up hurting me / No matter what, I love you endlessly / I know we’re blood, but this love’s bad for me”. This song is both an acknowledgement of the daily heartbreak caused by toxic love, and an encouragement to leave it behind. In one fell swoop, the singer manages to give us a catchy tune and a musical hug.

Not one to shy away from reality, Meghan Trainor takes on another tough topic in “Don’t I Make It Look Easy”. This pop song could be a redo or a sequel to “All About That Bass”. In this track, the singer has taken the gloves off, dissing the social media era and the obsession with appearances in a cheerful tone that contrasts sharply the seriousness of her lyrics: “Don’t I make it look easy? / Well I’m fooling you / You think I live that lavish life, happy life / But you don’t know I’m up all night / Worry ‘bout my body type / I wonder if I’m what they like”. In a time when the seemingly perfect lives and perfect plastic of influencers are plastered all over our social media, Trainor pulls no punches. With clarity and honesty, she removes all the filters and exposes the lies of the online personas that make so many people feel bad about themselves. And to tackle such a heavy subject with such a fun and light-hearted tone? Only Meghan Trainor could do it!

Many of the album’s tracks are worthy of a special mention. The Latin song “Mama Wanna Mambo”, inspired by Perry Como’s 1954 single “Papa Loves Mambo” and featuring Natti Natasha and Arturo Sandoval, will doubtlessly make your feet move and your hips swing. The old-school beat of the title track “Takin’ It Back” will do exactly what it promises. And “Made You Look” can be declared as the anthem of self-love: “I could have my Gucci on / I could wear my Louis Vuitton / But even with nothing on / Bet I made you look / Yeah I look good in my Versace dress / But I’m hotter when my morning hair’s a mess”. Isn’t it a treat when there is so much to choose from?

Meghan Trainor’s pop tunes and beats, often flavored with a retro atmosphere, are not groundbreaking, but they are very pleasant to listen to. However, her clever and honest lyrics make it well worth paying close attention to this album. “Takin’ It Back” has something to say, and those who listen will feel lighter for it.

Written by Camille Hourtane

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Review: Jonathan Jeremiah – Horsepower For The Streets

Pop Magazine — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 12:57:13 +0000

When old-school soul and a London lad meet, it creates something magical. With his unique, warm, and vibrant voice, his lyrics that tell a story, his guitar skills, and his intricate and emotional arrangements, Jonathan Jeremiah has been compared to iconic singers such as Serge Gainsbourg and Scott Walker. These are not comparisons easy to live up to. Yet, it seems that the soul singer, composer, and musician hailing from North London, manages to do so time and again. And luckily for us, he has just released his fifth studio album, “Horsepower For The Streets”. Not one to be constrained by time or geography, Jonathan Jeremiah has written most of his songs in Saint-Pierre-de-Cole near Bordeaux while on tour, recorded them in a renovated church in Amsterdam, and drawn inspiration from the breathtaking music produced during the golden age of soul in the 60s.

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For the eleven-track album, Jonathan Jeremiah has pulled all the stops: lyrics that go straight to the heart, a voice more powerful than ever, and the Amsterdam Sinfonietta, a 20-piece orchestra to help him bring his musical vision to life. And the result is a flawless album that flies high above the current musical scene. It’s difficult to single out a song from this record. Although they display a variety of tempos and themes, they all offer unwavering excellence from the start to the end. Be it the lyrics of “The Rope” (I’m running out of money / I’m running out of rope), the song of a man losing hope, or the hit potential of “Cut A Black Diamond”, the one thing that stays constant is the talent of Jonathan Jeremiah.

True to his wandering ways, one of Jonathan’s leading tracks is “Restless Heart”. With catchy female backing vocals, a string arrangement that beautifully compliments the acoustic guitar, and his signature warm voice, this song is a summary of the singer’s sensibilities. The lyrics are as unstoppable as the his talent: “I got a restless heart here in me / I got a restless heart going like a runaway train at breakneck speed / Oh and no amount of clicking my fingers could ever stop it in its tracks.” Perhaps Jonathan refers to his trip through America, where he got to study and get inspired by the music of the sixties and seventies. Or perhaps he’s referring to his own musical journey, free from the shackles of modern standards. “But when these wheels they start to turn / I have all I could ever need / Where the answers lead, I’ll go.” Jonathan makes his own way, carried by his personal inspirations, and takes us on this wonderful musical journey with him.

The title track, “Horsepower For The Streets”, is a gospel-inspired love song to those who struggle in the current state of our society. It’s an elegant, tender, and understated call to compassion and change. “Come bring it in brothers should you need it / I got you new rhythm for your spirits / Our world been getting wilder by the minute / Change is on the breeze.” The emotional backing vocals and the harmonious strings take this song to a whole new level. Halfway between a dreamy sequence from an old movie and a soul lament, it soothes, uplifts, and gives hope, without trying to make light of the present difficulties. The chorus almost feels like a mise en abyme: “I can hear it call to me / It’s like a melody from your energy / Oh your love it leads like violins / In unison together / This is where we come in / We stand up for the have-nots / Up against the false gods and the despots / This is our renaissance.” It’s a song that feeds the heart and feeds from the soul.

There isn’t a single faux pas on this album. It’s a throwback to the golden age of soul, yet it’s not a homage as Jonathan Jeremiah is not imitating or copying anyone. He crafts his own style and marches to the beat of his own drum – or the speed of his own train. If you want to listen to music with heart and soul, “Horsepower For The Streets” is the album for you!

Written by Camille Hourtane

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Review: The Game – Drillmatic – Heart Vs. Mind

Pop Magazine — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 14:40:08 +0000

The Game just dropped his eleventh studio album, “Drillmatic – Heart Vs. Mind”, and it’s getting a lot of attention for the wrong reasons. But there are a lot of right reasons why this album is a great body of work. The Game teamed up with producer Hit-Boy to make a 30-track hip-hop album that might be one of the best we’ve heard this year. The title is a wordplay on the classic Nas album, “Illmatic”. In an interview, The Game explained that the “Drill” in the name is an attempt to get the attention of the younger generation whose earwaves have been dominated by drill music in recent times. He also gives the meaning behind “Heart Vs. Mind” as the internal battle that he has to fight everyday as a person, trying to navigate life and make the best decisions as a man of his status.

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30 songs is a lot to digest, especially in today’s music climate. Low attention spans, coupled with an overwhelming amount of music coming out every day, means that a lot of great songs on an album like this might get drowned out by the noise. But The Game does a very good job at holding your attention throughout this album with his exceptional rapping skills and head-banging beats from Hit-Boy and other producers.

The album begins with the song “One Time”. It features Ice-T and talks about The Game’s experience with drugs and other vices in his neighborhood. This theme runs throughout the album. Songs like “Outside” featuring YG and “Save The Best For Last” featuring Rick Ross have nostalgic lyrics about The Game’s upbringing in Compton.

On an LP called “Drillmatic”, you would expect a lot of drill-inspired music, but the album has only two drill songs: “Burnin’ Checks” with Fivio Foreign and “K.I.L.L.A.S.” with Cam’ron. There are a number of deep moments on this record. “Start From Scratch 2” is an introspective song where The Game reflects on his past mistakes. “A Father’s Prayer” is an open letter to his daughter teaching her about the harsh realities of life.

“How Far I Came” featuring Roddy Ricch is a laidback song carried by a repetitive but infectious piano melody and chord progression with hard-hitting drums that somehow marries perfectly with the chill nature of the song. “Rubi’s Rose” is a two-part song with a rapid-fire verse from Twista in the first half and The Game appearing in the second half, rapping romantic lyrics over a melancholic instrumental and sultry, ambient vocals from Jeremih.

The album takes a left turn on “Nikki Beach”. If The Game had dropped this one a little earlier this year, he could have had the song of the summer. It has a danceable reggaeton drum groove with chill Rhodes piano and vibey vocals from Tory Lanez. French Montana drops a feel-good verse to complete the song.

“The Black Slim Shady” is the song that stole the show, dominating the conversation about the album upon its release. The Game goes the extra mile on this Eminem diss track. His rap dexterity is on full display, but he tries to emulate Eminem’s flow and cadence which didn’t turn out as lethal as it was intended to be. For better or worse, the song has become the main event of the album.

Kanye West’s appearance on the song “Eazy” proved to be a bit problematic too. All appreciation was suffocated by his jab at Pete Davidson. The song dropped as a single months before the album and all talk was about Kanye West spouting off about his divorce and taking issue with Pete Davidson. But these distractions shouldn’t take away from the sonic quality of The Game’s album.

“Drillmatic – Heart Vs. Mind” is certainly a good body of work. It’s an alchemy of hard beats, great bars and heartfelt storytelling with an almost perfect selection of guest features. The album lacks cohesion with its 30 tracks but I view it a huge collection of some of The Game’s best songs and rap verses in recent years. He may not have hit the bull’s eye with this one but he definitely came close. Hip-Hop Album of the Year contender, if you ask me.

Written by Leslie Addo

Leslie is a writer, guitarist, and music producer from Accra, Ghana, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, and a very unimpressive track record of making terrible smoothies. You can find him on Instagram @_lesplay, where he is either trying too hard to look cool with his guitar or posting videos of himself making bad smoothies and tasting them with a frown.

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Review: Hannah Baiardi – Magic

Pop Magazine — Thu, 19 May 2022 07:28:08 +0000

Not many voices can move you to your very core. But Hannah Baiardi is one of them. The young musician is releasing “Magic”, her third studio album, and it’s really worth the experience. The American artist studied jazz at the University of Michigan, but what she does with music cannot be learned in a classroom. Her soulful collection of songs has a heart. The multi-talented singer, songwriter and pianist is laying bare a piece of her own soul on the ten tracks of the album, and it cannot help but touch ours. Perhaps it’s her smooth, warm voice, or the peaceful and precise music, or the elegant lyrics. Or perhaps, it’s her honesty, her vulnerability, and her power that reach out to us.

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“Magic” is predominantly a jazz album, but it also has notes of pop, soul, and world music. The songs are delicate and thoughtful. This alone would be worth a listen. But the intricate lyrics, with mystical and esoteric undertones, also warrant paying close attention. According to Hannah Baiardi herself, writing the album was an enchanting experience born from a journey of self-discovery. It was an act of release as much as an act of creation.

The song “From Heaven Above” has a beat that almost sounds like a heart. It could simply be a beautiful jazzy love song, but the ambiguous lyrics and Baiardi’s transcendental voice turn it into a spiritual experience. “You know you had my heart, before I gave in… that’s the magic of this love, it’s come from heaven above.” It’s more than a song, it’s gospel.

On “Seduction”, the singer tells the story of a woman who resists the allure of a seductive womanizer, until she surrenders in the very last verse: “What if my resistance, cave to your persistence, the warmth of your voice, now I understand”. Although the singer tries not to fall for that man, we cannot help but fall for her captivating voice. This smooth, beguiling song, led by the artist’s piano and haunting notes of the harp, escorts us to a delicious capitulation. Like this woman in front of a charismatic seducer, it’s pointless to try and resist the charm of this song.

On the last track of the album, “Magical Creature”, the artist seems to have dropped all pretence and simply takes us to explore a magical dreamland: “What magical, mystical, dreamer are you? Mysterious, beautiful, dreamer are you? I have seen shadows, foreign meadows and memories that flood back, sketches in my mind, waiting to be validated, can this be or is it a dream?” Accompanied by her exquisite piano, we let ourselves be carried on this beautiful journey. Is it a dream, a distant memory? What is this magical creature? A loved one, a figment of her imagination? There are few definite answers, but in the end, it doesn’t matter. One certainty is the beauty of this spellbinding song.

Hannah Baiardi is a unique and memorable voice in a time of fast and indistinguishable music. Both, the instrumentation and the lyrics, are finely crafted without being stilted or pompous. Her music is deeply personal yet utterly relatable. “Magic” offers intimate soundscapes, inviting us to witness the artist’s transformational journey. There’s no anguish in her vulnerability, only the serenity of a musician who has found enlightenment. With each song, her voice and emotions cast a spell. She truly seems to create some magic.

Written by Camille Hourtane

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Review: Eric Roberson – Lessons

Pop Magazine — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 08:39:17 +0000

Eric Roberson is back at it. Criminally underrated, he has built a loyal following since his debut LP, “Esoteric”, came out in 2001. Sporting his characteristic velvety tone and lyrical wizardry, the King of Indie Soul is releasing his ninth full-length album, “Lessons”. The previews we’ve heard – like the title track and lead single “Lessons” and its wildly popular remix – have already been making waves in the music community. At the 5th annual Pop Awards, “Lessons” was nominated for Song Of The Year. On his social media channels, Roberson posted a regular stream of positive messages linked to each life lesson that inspired the music for the new album. To drive the point home, he also paired his words with compelling scenes from black cinema. Learning to be a better listener, cherishing real love, and knowing the right time to let your guard down are all little gems of wisdom to be found.

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Thinking of love on the day of his wedding anniversary, Eric Roberson was inspired to write “Lessons”. The song invites the listener in with the opening line: “God has a funny way of showing you lessons.” It’s as if the audience is in the same room with Roberson as he sits in a chair and tells the story of his life. In fact, the music video begins just that way, switching back and forth between Eric and clips of a young couple getting married. It’ll have you swaying side to side as the gentle melody complements Roberson’s sweet serenading.

The chorus taps into that feeling we’ve all experienced, looking back on our past mistakes, seeing how far we’ve come, amazed at the way things play out: “Everyone that let me down led me to you… if I never went through it, I’d never found a love like you.” It definitely has the perfect wedding song vibe. The remix might have even exceeded the original’s popularity. Roberson expressed how he not only wanted to vocally collaborate with other indie soul giants, but also showcase their writing abilities. Anthony Hamilton, Raheem DeVaughn, and Kevin Ross penned their own musings and took the song to different heights. All four artists achieved a harmony that sounds nothing less than heaven-sent.

The song resonated so powerfully among fans that Roberson decided to come out with a book called “Lessons: 100 Thoughts on Life & Love”. The book underscores the music and is intended to carry the wisdom even further into the hearts of his audience. As if he wasn’t already a man of many hats, now we get to know Eric the author. On the back cover, Roberson instructs his readers to “meditate, reflect, play, or match the lesson with the movie”, referencing his initial social media marketing campaign.

In addition to the defining “Lessons” single and its iconic remix, the album’s tracklist includes nine other songs and guest artists Intro, Mumu Fresh, and Cory Henry. The cover art for the album portrays Roberson writing on a drawing board, his notes featuring messages like “the only thing 100% forgivable is effort.” This album is not only a reflection of Eric Roberson’s masterful craft, but also shows us the caliber of man that he is: dedicated to family and deeply thoughtful with a desire to touch others in meaningful ways.

Written by Asha Gowan

Asha is a writer, visual artist, and digital designer.

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