The Belle of the Ball
Make it stand out
Now, it’s a strange way to start a synth- soul R&B new age EP review to reference a long-dead white CIS guy, who sported a rather fetching moustache and had quite the reputation to be one of the most famous and celebrated classical composers of the 1800s. But here I am, and here you are. Stay on this path with me.
Johann Strauss II’s ‘The Blue Danube’ that runs over 10 minutes long, takes the listener on the journey along Vienna’s most iconic attractions, from its’ trickling birth in the mountain springs, to the harsh and chaotic notes of the river rapids, all leading to a boastful crescendo right in the heart of Vienna, a sparkling jewel at the heart of the city. Considered one of the early tried and tested formulas of picking a listener up at one place, and dropping them off somewhere new and progressed after many emotional twists and turns on the way,
I couldn’t help but notice the same genius structure adopted and embodied by Joviale’s Hurricane Belle- a piece of art worlds away from the stiff classical composure structure, yet still has the genius to have us begin the journey with them right at the crisp and fresh source, into the twists and turns of what traumas and emotions life can throw at us, and present us out the other side clearer, with a more enlightened clarity, than before.
Now, it’s a strange way to start a synth- soul R&B new age EP review to reference a long-dead white CIS guy, who sported a rather fetching moustache and had quite the reputation to be one of the most famous and celebrated classical composers of the 1800s. But here I am, and here you are. Stay on this path with me.
Joviale achieves in their EP what many artists clamber and scrape to do- they indulge us with a synthetized nostalgic sound that bottles the essence of the fun, care free, romanticised 80’s- where the phones were still wired to the walls and the way to connect with your love was to kiss them at the top of the hill until the sun went down, and you knew you were going to be searched for before long. Bottles this, yet completely allows the space to wear their heart on their sleeve when creating their art, meaning the opportunity to walk through mysterious alleyways of the undiscovered that they wouldn’t if simply ‘sticking with the crowd’. Joviale is in the realm of the new with perfect chimes to the old, with strong influences shining through of kraut rock, Drexicya- style and lo-fi industrial sounds, twinned with fresh and smooth neo-soul that they compartmentalise through chapters in each piece.
___STEADY_PAYWALL___
“I owe so much to my producer, Nathan.” Jovi began to explain on a relaxed lunch- time zoom call, chilling behind a zoom pre-set screen of a sunny pebbled beach that they accidently pressed and didn’t know how to change. “We’re so different as people but when we get together, I don’t know, it’s like ideas just bounce off of each other and no idea is a silly one. We run with any crazy inkling we have, and Nathan is just like ‘okay!’ There’s always so many different styles to explore, and he’s someone that challenges me. I find that so important.
When listening through Hurricane Belle top- to- bottom, the EP rings faint echoes of artists like Erykah Badu and Solange jamming in live lounges, with spicy hints of Willow Smith’s latest album interludes, but Jovi sites other sources as the foundations of their sound, and not necessarily other artists. “Growing up, I had some difficult times.” Dipping their head a little. “But if there’s one thing that’s unshakable about my childhood, is that these was always music. Growing up in an African household, music was everywhere, it was fundamental, wired in our blood- that’s without a doubt.”
“My EP ‘Hurricane Belle’ was actually created because I was in fact drawn in by the ‘Hurricane Bells’ project created by contemporary artist Peter Shenai’s experimentation, which was modelled on the 5 stages of Hurricane Katrina. Five bells, cast and moulded by Shenai himself, represents and embodies certain stages of the storm’s journey; from its’ infancy on the Gulf of Mexico to the devastation it caused upon the city of New Orleans. Shenai encourages visitors to “strike them and listen. Turn them over and feel their weight. Investigate Katrina with your eyes, hands, and ears.”
When researching further into the base project of Joviale’s inspiration, something was absolutely evident- both projects, Joviale and Shenai’s alike, were crafted in a particular delicate way to immortalise and memorialise the black- hole, swallowed up feeling of tragedy through mediative sounds. Joviale set out to create music that knocks on the doors to your very soul, and they succeeded in their venture.
“These songs are so personal.” They continued to reveal. “I’m terrified of putting them out in the world, to the public, anxious of what they’ll throw back at me. The world can be harsh, and that’s probably why I’m so muted and private through my social media channels. I’m always so confused by my PR team, they’re like ‘yeah, post it!’ and I’m sitting there thinking like… Okay, but it’s just me eating an ice cream, or like, just some random selfie of me wrapped in a duvet. I find it so strange. But I have such a beautiful support system around me, I’m so lucky. An amazing team who supports me in such a solid, unconditional way, and the friends I have around me, those that I live with too. The pandemic has been so hard on all of us, and my anxiety along with my naturally introverted personality has really taken it hard. I’m still a little bit of a pessimist, I’m still so unsure about where all of this will lead us, and whether we’ll pull out of the struggle tomorrow, the next day or in two years’ time. But I’ve still been creative and will continue to be. There are things coming! This EP is merely the origin of my story.”
Within the EP’s opening title ‘Up In Flames’, we’re introduced to Joviale’s dreamy and warm vocals layered over a chirpy piano composition, which transitions from classic to synth rock as Jovi’s voice splits from singular to multiple angelic harmonies. We then move onto ‘Blow!’, which feels more of a hip- swaying, cramped house party rebellion, which treats us to gorgeous moments of the sax to top whipped cream on the yummy sweet treat. ‘ZeroCool’ strips us back- a moment of intimacy between us and Jovi’s voice once more, almost as they’re singing so close to the mic that it could tickle our ears. We’re then given Jovi’s pinnacle through ‘Glass Peach’ the last track on the record and my personal absolute favourite. A juicy melody packed with relaxed vibes with gorgeous guitar string twangs, perfect for a lone walk on the beach at sunset to provide both the energy and mood for mindfulness.
“This is a focus on storytelling.” Jovi added with pride. “There’s definitely been growth and maturity that I put into this project when compared to my earlier song writing. A willingness to experiment with how I’m expressing myself. The EP is almost like… organised chaos, a symphony of calm and anxiety- all rolled into one. I wanted to draw out very specific feelings and give them room to echo. I’ve been particularly interested in how to create an atmosphere at is both meditative and unsettling at the same time.”
When asked what the rest of 2021 looks like for them now the EP is out for the world to indulge in, it seems Jovi has more tricks up their sleeve. “Expect many accompanying music videos coming out soon.” They teased. “I have such a deep love for the visual arts and I want to make these into a whole explorative cinema- scape. This is something I’m so excited to share with you all.” But for now, immerse yourself into Joviale’s wonderland created and laced into ‘Hurricane Belle’, where you may fall down the rabbit hole to find yourself standing in front of the blue caterpillar himself, as he asks ‘who are you?’ Opening up the doorway to your own self-reflection- what emotions build up who you are, and what lost treasures of yourself is this EP emerging from you?’
Words: Heather Hogan | Images: Dhamirah Coombes
