Chrissy Renick (from the group Sample Kulture) isn’t new to the nu-soul game, but on "jasper," she takes a sweet, surprising left turn. The St. Louis singer gracefully drifts between slow-steeped jazziness and bubbly electro-pop – tapping into a sunlit groove that makes the track easy to sink into. From the first wavy note, there's an all-natural warmth baked into every layer of this number. Lush synth pads spill alongside sparkling digital pianos and cool finger snaps as Chrissy sings sweetly. The bridges and choruses liven things up with plucky drumming and nimble guitar lines that give up a dash of folktronic charm.
Renick slides onto the track with silky vocals, all soft edges and feathery textures drifting above the push-pull sway of the beat. "I'm closer to the ceiling…all my walls are down," she sings softly, savoring the rush of diving headfirst into a new love with total ease and a relaxed grin. Later, as the beat picks up steam, she rolls smoothly into the hook, softly singing, "Let's sway, you never let your mind play / Get away, I can take the pain away/ Oh keep giving me more, make me remember what I came here for." And by the time she reaches the jazz-scatting outro, Renick’s voice stacks itself into cloud-woven harmonies spilling from a joyful heart.
"Jasper" finds its sweet spot somewhere between "ethereal" and "earthy." It's the kind of track that washes over you easily but also settles deep into your memory. And through it all, Chrissy Renick comes across as comfortable but never complacent, smooth but still stirring. This is a laid-back bit of springtime bliss for your playlist.
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