Mixing true R&B charisma with a faith-based conceptualism in his lyrics and overall delivery, singer and songwriter HeIsTheArtist offers listeners a fantastic new single in “Boom – Love Version” this summer that is almost certain to stir your soul. Structured around a lush lead vocal from our leading man, “Boom – Love Version” is a spectacularly balladic take on neo-soul that steers clear of the overindulgences that a lot of other players in the genre have fallen prey to in recent years. There’s a lot to take in with regards to this tracks subtle intricacies, but for those of us with a strong appreciation of the greater R&B spectrum (and its most inspired young players), this is a must-listen no matter which way you break it down.
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/heistheartist?lang=en
I love the smooth mix presented to us in “Boom – Love Version,” and through the meticulousness of the mastering, we’re afforded better access to the best qualities HeIsTheArtist has to share with the world. The keys are wrapped around the vocal like a warm blanket, and though the beat plays a very modest role in comparison to the melodic elements comprising the backdrop to the lead vocal, it’s as much a contributor to the general narrative in the song as anything else is. There’s no unutilized space here, nor are we forced to divide our attention between competing fireworks; there’s just HeIsTheArtist, a gentle rhythm and a musical moxie that won’t quit regardless of how intimidating the lyrical construct may or may not be.
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/heistheartist/1453350705
Melodicism is the constant focus in “Boom – Love Version,” and because of how carefully this song was produced, there’s scarcely a moment in which we aren’t able to focus on the emotions as they’re reflected in the harmony. Everything here starts with HeIsTheArtist, but whether he’s bearing down on the bassline with a seductive vocal that only he can produce or alluding to a deeper, unspoken love in his lyricism, he consistently making it clear that he has as much interest in occupying the spotlight as he does creating something aesthetically original. While this isn’t to suggest that he doesn’t display some influences in a single like this one, there’s simply no argument to be made against his being a unique player in today’s highly competitive indie market.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv3RcEhsKYU
If you’ve yet to hear the music of HeIsTheArtist, I think that “Boom – Love Version” is a good track to get started with. It’s been a long odyssey for this artist – starting as a secular player and evolving into a Christian musician isn’t as uncommon as some folks might like to think, but it definitely takes a lot more finesse than anyone would guess. There are still a lot of areas in which HeIsTheArtist has potential to grow into this newfound persona, but for the moment, I would say that there isn’t a thing about his present artistic trajectory that I would recommend altering. He’s got my support, and if you’re into smooth beats and honeysweet vocals as much as I am, I think he’ll soon have yours.
Troy Johnston