Fresh fusion of genres and originality – “Body Moves” by Joy Jeanette

This is a great bit of nostalgic soul and dance music expressed with a very passionate and smooth performance from the artist. The beat has a classic, perhaps even vintage vibe to it, the rhythm is reminiscent of a smoky jazz scene from earlier decades, yet there’s a certain style to the way in which the track has been structured and performed that adds a really fresh dynamic to all of this.

Production wise everything is just as it should be – the instrumental elements are minimal, yet with great impact; that smoothness, that jazz-meets-soul swagger that sounds so effortless and natural. Combine that with the creative freedom exercised throughout the song’s various sections and it’s a great few minutes of music.

There’s a calm sort of confidence to the whole thing that is far more effective than an overly loud, overly attention seeking sort of sound – the simplicity leaves space for listeners to really take in the sound and the melody, and to really appreciate the expression of the piece.

The leading vocal has an unusual sense of character, and that’s refreshing to hear. The artist plays around with her voice as you would with any other instrument – that creative freedom again, shining brightly. The expression is free and natural, and certain moments in the track have a huge strike of personality to them that is quite memorable. Furthermore, the melody stays in your mind after listening, and the overall vibe of the song leaves you feeling pretty relaxed.

Music at it’s most effective, plus a really fresh fusion of genres and originality. The artist is someone with a complex and unique journey to her name and no fear of being honest about it, so there’s bound to be far more creative expression to come, hopefully in the form of more classic songs.

By Rebecca Cullen

Rebecca is a Musician and writer from Manchester, UK, with an MA in Song Writing.