Music Review for “Freak” by BLKRAW feat. Jamillions

The light and electro-like sound of the opening synth riff flows well alongside the simple click of a beat. The r&b vocal melody that follows is as you’d expect from the music, the vocal effect is a little clichéd, but the melody is strong, and from a production perspective the music is well balanced and well mixed. As the rap vocal comes into play, the flow is a little faster than expected, that element of mystery, freshness, is brought into the mix. The lyrical flow is impressive actually, and it really fits well alongside this particular backing track. The music is simple, synth-based, almost like a retro computer game, but not irritating – it sounds pleasant, it contrasts well with the velocity of the rap vocal performance.

There is nothing particularly striking or unusual about the lyrics, but the track has a great sound of summer to it, a well-timed release that will most likely leave a positive and lasting effect on listeners in the coming months. The song itself really grows on you the more you listen. The vocal flow goes from impressive to quite outstanding at times, there is a glimmer of lyrical strength towards the end of the second verse, then the melody comes back in and it all feels familiar again. It definitely sounds like a hit, by all accounts – well performed, well mixed, an effective and memorable melody for the hook.

There’s a distinct sound of the 90’s or early 2000’s in this track, it brings about a certain level of nostalgia as you listen, but for the most part the creativity in terms of the musical backdrop is clear and inventive. The music doesn’t just roll out on a loop, it builds up, drops out, stretches, sits, intermittently throughout the track – whilst at the same time letting the vocal performances confidently and stylishly lead the way.

By Rebecca Cullen