JoZie “Perfect Enough”

 

JoZie’s latest single “Perfect Enough” is a pop anthem for owning who you are. JoZie got her start when she was just 8 years old when she found musical magic through a karaoke machine given to her by her dad. At 18 JoZie moved to Music City, where she’s teamed up with writers Thornton Cline and Lacie Carpenter. JoZie has already reached number one on the World Indie Music Top 100 charts and Euro Indie Network Top 100 Charts with her first radio single, “My Lucky Song.” JoZie’s second single, “Perfect Enough” highlights her vocal power and her pop-star persona. 

In fact, that’s what is so refreshing about “Perfect Enough,” is JoZie’s encouragement that whatever you naturally given doesn’t need to be altered. Any young person out there knows that there are unrealistic beauty standards all over social media. There is constant social pressure from the media to change your appearance to the latest trend, because in some way, how you naturally look isn’t enough. JoZie comes in with strong vocals that challenge this thought with “Perfect Enough.” JoZie confronts the tendency to follow the trend by offering a counterpoint that timeless beauty is what matters more. “Close enough to perfection/What dreams are made of,”  JoZie takes a compliment we all wish to receive at some point in and our life and claims it as her own. JoZie is a pop singer who is already looking to keep things real with her listeners. She inspires a healthy outlook for young women in particular with lyrics, “She’s like a fine sunny day/Sprinkled with a brain.” Its not often that intelligence is celebrated but JoZie is making sure of that. 

The production of “Perfect Enough” is powerful and upbeat, in the same way Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” is. The most intriguing aspect of this track is when JoZie foregoes belting for talking. “She’s a warrior/A conqueror/Her strength never wavers,” comes in between the chorus. This talking section reminds me of Lana Del Rey’s talking in “National Anthem.” Make no mistake, “Perfect Enough” is all JoZie’s. The choice to add these moments of talking imbues a sense of risk and creativity into the track. Its a pop song that doesn’t do what you expect it to, which is exactly what the theme of “Perfect Enough” is doing. JoZie aims to celebrate our differences because they make us who we are and last a lifetime. My favorite talking section is when JoZie says, “She’s got all the qualities/No need for apologies/Imperfections cloud her reflections/Of all the beauty she can’t see.” 

JoZie’s message is loud and clear, if you don’t look like everyone else, that’s okay, that’s enough. Timelessness is the true aim, a look that never goes out of style. Getting lost in the sea of trends breeds feelings of inadequacy. These insecurities can keep you from realizing your own strength, beauty, and power. “Perfect Enough” reminds listeners to not fear “irrelevancy” if you don’t look like what’s trending. You don’t need all of that to be considered “perfect” or “beautiful,” you just need to be you. You are worthy enough as is. This is an impressive and empowering new single from JoZie, who is already nailing the pop-anthem by exploring her creativity. The talking sections of “Perfect Enough” are edgy and unique, JoZie nails them, leaving the door open for where her sound could go. I’m impressed that she is already so willing to explore poignant topics and melodies. “Perfect Enough” has me curious about what direction her EP is going to take, since the anthem is her bread and butter.

“Perfect Enough” is an exciting new song from JoZie, that promises to empower you with one listen. JoZie’s voice is effortless and timeless, marking an exciting beginning for the singer. I can’t wait to see what avenues she chooses to explore, her voice and her songwriting team are onto something. Its clear that she’s interested in being an artist all her own. If you’re not feeling good enough, put on “Perfect Enough” it’ll remind that you are perfect as you are.

Lauren Millar 

“Instincts” by Talon David

The definition of the word ‘talon’ has two meanings: a claw, especially one belonging to a bird of prey; the part of a bolt which the key presses to slide it into a lock. Newcomer Talon David has two defining moments happening with her new release “Instincts”: she proves she can both sing and write a gripping pop song; she’s just the bolt of lightning the music world needs right now. “Instincts” is a shoo-in and has its claws locked in for one of 2022’s best songs. And it’s only January. 

URL: https://www.talondavid.com/

“Instincts”, co-written with Thornton Cline, is the Nashville-based David’s follow-up to “Not My Problem”. Cline, a Songwriter Hall of Fame Inductee, is a multiple Grammy nominee and has well over 1,000 published songs to his name. Cline is also a Young Adult and Children’s Author. He certainly has his pulse on what teenagers are thinking, how they are feeling and the emotions they are facing – making him the perfect partner for David’s easy-going, and humble vocals. She’s young and you can hear it in her voice, but that’s also her strength. I wanted to hear these words mirror mirror on the wall, you think that you see it all – from her perspective. It's an altogether different experience to hear that from a seasoned, dare I say it, older artist. David reveals an entirely new level to the concept of ‘trusting your instincts’ to her listeners. I think, too, that even if you didn’t realize her youth, you would still feel transfixed by her voice and have that instant trust. 

As the song moves along, so does David’s transformation. The drum work and the piano arrangements don’t swallow her vocals. The final mix is dripping with moments of elegance and intimacy. The piano keys sparkle and glisten. The drums beat their way to the top. Her voice emerges as a lovely, guiding light. She’s a siren that breaks through the murkiness of the jazz and pop rhythms. I hear glimpses of Adel and even Olivia Rodrigo in “Instincts”. But it’s all David and her expressive patterns that make such a wonderful patchwork of adult contemporary, pop, jazz and Americana by song’s end, I felt very appreciative that “Instincts” doesn’t sound like just every other single on the radio these days. That’s the beauty of music discovery – indie artists like David are why music continues to evolve and challenge our viewpoints. David readies the listener for a wonderful sonic journey – she takes the listener in her arms and she’s easy to embrace in “Instincts”. 

APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/talon-david/1510397019

Artists might wait a lifetime for validation or crave a connection with their fans. What David communicates in her new single “Instincts” is that she’s finally free and she’s happy looking in the mirror each day and trusts what she sees. I believe in her too. “Instincts” is out-of-the-gate one of the truest pop songs I’ve heard in a very long time. She truly lets go and lets her instincts take over in this gem-of-a-song. I’ve surrendered to the great work found in “Instincts”. 

 Jonah McPherson