“Do as you please,” implores Chesca in the fever pitch of her new single “Crocodile Tears,” and while the beats that are backing up this verse do a lot to drive its underlying sentiments home, there’s no doubt that it wouldn’t be quite as profound a lyric with another singer conveying it to us. “Crocodile Tears” is equal parts neon pop and controlled, singer/songwriter-influenced poetry delivered with an electrified groove, but if you’re as intrigued by contemporary hybridity as I am, I think you’re going to appreciate it for the masterful document it is.
WEBSITE: https://www.chescamusica.com/
There’s a sexual tinge to the vocal delivery here as we push forward in the track, but at no point does Chesca rely on blunt lust alone in structuring the catharsis on the other side of her words. The percussive componentry does enough to solidify the mood of the music without having to get too over the top in terms of aesthetical theatrics, and for the most part, I think it’s clear that this piece was originally designed to magnify her disciplined approach to the mic as much as it is the substance of the narrative. Metaphors do have a place in pop music, and this is perhaps the most intelligent way to use them.
Seductive harmonies and lyrical implications aside, these beats are some of the most addictive I’ve come across from an indie source in a long time, save for maybe the likes of Sharlamar Curry. The rhythm is made to do so much more than colorize the words; it’s setting up the entire climax long before Chesca ever touches on the hook’s most vibrant point of expression. Terms like multidimensionality get thrown around an awful lot in our industry nowadays, but rarely do I have the opportunity to hear someone who lives up to the description as well as this young woman does.
These are definitely some danceable grooves, but as previously noted, the poetic narrative here feels just a little too authentic for me to feel like “Crocodile Tears” was destined for the club scene exclusively. There’s an introspective quality to this material that I would love to see Chesca explore even more than she has, and with the right creative direction to guide her music away from even the slightest commercial influences, I think it could cultivate a deeper sense of personality listeners are bound to fall in love with.
Crushingly melodic in all the right spots, pop fans need to check out what Chesca is up to in her new single “Crocodile Tears” this summer with every intention of hearing something they won’t soon forget. Despite the relatively simple compositional integrities coming together in this release, I just don’t know if there’s any getting around the elaborate depth of artistry giving the content a boost other releases just aren’t afforded on the mainstream or underground level. There Chesca operates like one of the elites in pop music today in this single, and I’m looking forward to seeing what her confidence yields next.
Photo Credit Marta Pru
Troy Johnstone