While scientists release papers asserting that
modern pop music is in the throes of a continual “dumbing down” process that
makes intrinsic elements of the art like melody more uniform and predictable
than ever, they ignore the brightest stars in the firmament because they
haven’t yet achieved the same notoriety as their more highly paid and visible
counterparts. Juliet Huns is one of those bright stars. This young Kenyan born
singer’s debut release, Behind the Scenes, is a three song EP with some of the best
pop songs heard in recent memory. However, pop music isn’t her only approach. The
three songs on this brief release dabble with other complementary elements,
like the sort of approach rock bands take to writing and constructing their
material, and certainly attempts raising the bar about how articulate pop songs
can or should be. The production is equally solid while eschewing
predictability. It would have been very easy for Huns’ collaborators to focus
the production on her voice, but instead, they wisely take a balanced approach
that looks to blend her voice in with the instrumentation so listeners enjoy
this material as the fully-rounded songs they are intended to be.
The opener is, arguably, the most traditionally pop
minded effort on Behind the Scenes. “Realized” gains a lot from the crescendos
and breakdowns that Huns embeds within the track, but it’s just as invigorating
without them. She sings with a combination of passion and joy that never sways
her from pursuing the most spot-on phrasing that she can muster. The lyrical
content is sharp and intelligent without ever denying listeners entry into the
experience of the song. The EP’s second track, “Gone”, is cut from a much
rougher cloth that sonically embodies the experience of the lyrics. The desperation
and pain coming through in her words and vocals never dampens a listener’s
experience of the song because it’s rendered with such emphatic resolve. The
guitar sounds introduced here are an interesting stylistic twist that she
sounds quite at home with; if anything, particularly on the chorus, these
unusual sounds for a pop song of this stripe seem to further inspire her.
The EP’s final track, “Red Line”, alternates more
sedate passages with intense musical interludes within a small amount of space.
None of the songs run too long, but this closer might be the most perfectly
orchestrated track on the release. Huns shows a great deal of sharp minded
judgment to exert just the right amount of emotion during the verses but yet
pick up her game for the choruses./ The imagery from this song will strike all
listeners as being familiar, but Huns handles it differently with her
well-phrased lyrical content and phrasing that makes something new out of
something familiar. Behind the Scenes ends on this passionate final note, but
it merely whets listeners appetites for her next release. This is a rare talent
with an assortment of skills – she isn’t just a capable singer, but an
all-around artist.
9 out of 10 stars
Montey Zike
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