Each Measure Feature: HJ Soul

FEATURE

HJ Soul returns to a classic R&B sound with the recent single “Unbreakable," a mournful slow burn transporting listeners to the emotional solace of surrender and liberation. 

This song is a slow revving of emotions, a gentle flicker that by the generous 6-minute mark has turned into glowing fire. The instrumental beginning sets the scene with a jazzy double bass and keys, which play the musical core for the track along with those rich vocals. It’s the golden instrumental trifecta that creates that wondrous R&B effect, slowing down and releasing both physically and mentally into the soulful lull of sound, like being swallowed into another story. At least as an R&B lover, that’s what I can hope for. HJ Soul does not disappoint. 

That soulful depth only dives further as the song continues, joined with slow layering of horns, backing vocals, and percussion. The slow and steady roll of lyrics describes a state of surrender into the present, the recognition of the limiting patterns of daily life. The musical simplicity is a perfect backdrop to more clearly pronounce the lyrical depth. With tender confidence, HJ Soul more than tells a story but rather declares a testament of spiritual awakening when one recognizes the true self beneath the systems and routines of daily life. His voice is joined by others as the sound grows into a powerful chorus of voices, a luscious movement of sound with that spiritual gospel edge as if being tapped into some higher magic. 

I almost don’t want to spoil this for listeners, but be a geek and look forward to not just one but two key changes. Didn’t even clock how much I missed a smooth as velvet key change that gloriously lifts the sound before receding back for a caressing outro. As the sound peels back, the message comes fully forward with a final few lyrical sentences delivered without rousing melody: the voice that travels through the wind. I could have stuck around for about 5 more key changes, but the reserved ending speaks to an honesty that delightfully complements the grandeur built up to this point. HJ Soul has got both style and substance, a soaring new voice to the neo-soul and R&B scene with plenty of stories to tell.  

KEEP UP WITH HJ SOUL BELOW: