OFFICIAL: http://www.juliamcdonaldmusic.com/
Written
by Alonzo Evans, posted by blog admin
It’s
rare anymore that a pop artist knocks it out of the park on their first
release. Usually it takes a couple of
tries for someone to develop their songwriting but there are certain exceptions
to that rule. Case in point, Julia
McDonald and her tasty flirtations with pop, r & b, trip-hop and soul
groove on the debut EP, Gravity. With
the aid of producer/co writer Tavie Basarich, Julie McDonald has created an
offbeat, mini-pop masterpiece. As good
pop tends to be, these songs are stripped down to the hooks and nebulous areas
are covered by scores of synths/programming that keeps the beat going.
The
cool rush of the title track provides a good mixed mood intro that plays with
ambiguity in its set-up; softly breathing keyboards, honey-coated vocal croons
and spacey acoustic guitar usher in a mood both dark and light. As the track rolls onward the volume moves
skyward like a slowly rising wave, crashing beats, melodic synthesizers and
McDonald’s expressive delivery selling the material to any ear that will listen
(even those who might not usually). This
night-lit lamentation is offset by the thumping dance-y bump of “Games” where
the acoustic guitar picks up the tempo two clicks above the title track and
incorporates busier percussion to enhance the lively, free spirit vocal
declarations. From attitudinal slams to
a gorgeous chorus, Julie is more than capable of adding
spice to any musical dish. “Pretty
Committee” saves the committee for a cerebral take on Katy Perry’s school of
hit single magic. The jangly, mid-speed
synths sparkle and fade alongside a steady beat and soft instrumentation that
gives McDonald a chance to bust out some vocals that roar more than they coo.
It’s further proof that she draws from soul and other genres for
inspiration. “No Good for Me” follows
suit with a piano/key melody piled over pop radio programming, the track
providing yet another highlight thanks to the soaring chorus. The stalwart rock influence during “Something
to Talk About” is another side of McDonald’s many songwriting facets with
closer “Simpler Things” culminating the EP in starry eyed, dance/dub
theatrics.
Gravity
will certainly appeal to pop music fans, especially those looking for more
variety in the way songs are composed and arranged. Not only does McDonald rule on the
songwriting/singing end but she also obviously works well with her producers as
the mixing is in top form. If you want
pop that feels like discovery with each passing listen as opposed to
disinterest, Gravity is the place to go.
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