Community is an integral part to music and is often understated in all the hype of artist's creative desires to develop an indelible identity. What brings an artist a step forward is linking association to their home. Drake whole-heartedly asserts Toronto as his home within his music and when you think of artists representing Brooklyn, Jay-Z will likely come to mind. Hometown heroes give people something to take pride in. When these heroes are able to draw a community closer together through the medium of music, a raw passion exists. These are all ideas running through singer-songwriter JJ Adrian's head. The recent graduate of highly-renown Berklee College of Music is setting himself up as the vessel to expose to the world Vancouver's scene, which is rich in talent and fervor.
When first discovering JJ Adrian's music, I was excited to discover he was also from Vancouver. What I was more so captivated by, was the young artist's transparency of emotions through his vocal work. Compared to the likes of fellow Canadians, Drake and the Weekend, the singer holds a grasp to a promising future , with his delectable sound drenched in a purely human poignance. The tracks already released off upcoming album Priorities encompass a quality pop work with subtle electronic peculiarities. These specific characteristics highlight the anticipated record as an innovative take on R&B and soul.
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Today EARMILK is premiering JJ Adrian's 4th single off Priorities titled "Gold", a beautifully melancholic anthem for hopeless romantics. This track also takes position as a subtle follow up to "X Marks the Spot", which inversely is about falling for someone and finding that one of a kind "treasure" to compliment your life. Almost acting as a post recollection of that idyllic romance turned sour; the timbre painting the atmosphere of the track reflects a very believable narrative in "Gold". The saved voice-message from a former lover introducing the track is all too familiar. By implementing this regretful vocal remnant, JJ Adrian speaks to the notion that "Everything that glitters isn't gold". JJ Adrian's words and voice in "Gold" present themselves as vulnerable & romantic; aurally crafting a fragile yet familiar emotion for listeners to empathize with. With every screened call, awkward first date, unanswered text message, and other misfortunes of the modern day romance, there's bound to be a JJ Adrian track to soothe the soul. As a prospective hometown hero integrating personal narratives through the ripest of vocals and crisp production, JJ Adrian has all the tools to bring him to the forefront of the music scene. Watch out for more exciting work from the talented artist this summer!
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