In times of great strife, music can work wonders on the human soul, and while I can’t be certain (being that I wasn’t in the room when it was recorded), I’m fairly sure this is what was on Darrell Kelley’s mind when he sat down to construct his latest single, “The Coronavirus.” Powered by a sensuous beat and a vibrant vocal harmony that could warm your heart amidst even the chilliest of circumstances, “The Coronavirus” is an unguarded look into Darrell Kelley’s songwriting at its most humble and exposed, and personally, I think it’s arriving at the perfect time this spring.
The vocal is the primary source of catharsis in this track, and by placing it in direct contrast with the tense, angularly-arranged instrumentation, I think Kelley was able to yield a heck of a lot more emotionality out of this song’s aesthetical framework than he would have been otherwise. He’s already shown us in his past three albums just how pivotal structuring a melodic mood is to his music, and in “The Coronavirus,” I think he reaffirms his commitment to detail over decadent bells and whistles beyond debate (which isn’t exactly something I can say about many of his peers right now).
This bassline isn’t quite as potent as I would have preferred it to be, but at the same time, I understand what Kelley was trying to achieve in giving it the minimalism-inspired role it was in this instance. “The Coronavirus” doesn’t need any additional backend swing beyond what the percussion is already dishing out, and had the bass parts here been beefed up from behind the soundboard, I suppose I can see where the track might have run the risk of sounding painfully status quo – especially when taking into account the excess of low-tone indulgences that have been dominating the R&B and pop charts lately.
While the master mix in “The Coronavirus” feels a lot edgier than it needed to be, I think it definitely imparts a certain sense of authenticity that might not have been as easy for us to pick up on in a different scenario. Nothing in the instrumentation feels undercooked or left recklessly unrefined; instead, I get a very fluid, unforced vibe from every corner of this composition, which, the last time I checked, was something most artists would spend an entire career trying to perfect in this capacity.
If you’re an R&B fan, or are simply looking for the freeing escape that good music can provide us with during the isolated weeks ahead, Darrell Kelley’s “The Coronavirus” is definitely worth a listen. Kelley has been making some great melodies in the last few years, combing influences that span gospel, pop, traditional rhythm & blues and everything in between, and here, I think we get to experience his sound without anything to come between his artistry and the audience he’s tailored it for. I’m looking forward to hearing what he comes up with next, but in the meantime, this is a solid track to check out this spring.
Troy Johnston
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