San Reetam – Carry Me (2024)
With dabs of soul, flits of RnB, flicks of contemporary pop, and even drips of classic orchestral, San Reetam has a fascinating sonic palette with boundary-breaking diversity. Unlike many other bands I have heard, the UK-based collective is miles ahead of what came before and running forward as a trailblazer of eclectic music. This is my introduction to San Reetam, so join me as I dive headfirst into their single ‘Carry Me’.
Drawing together the musical stylings of Eve Lesedi (vocals and saxophone), Joe Pike (pianist), 3D (drums) and MDB (composer and producer), natural talent oozes through their melting pot of sound. Following the critically acclaimed ‘The Road’, San Reetam swag into 2024 with ‘Carry Me’ – the first of several singles to be released throughout the year.
Taken from their sonic palette, the group create a kaleidoscopic sonic painting boasting bright reds, purples, greens and shocking gold in ‘Carry Me’. A slam of red retro soul flashes across the portrait carefully tinged with dabs of purple funk; however, the green drops of pop entice a modern-day vibe, but the shocking gold vocals stand out with bright finesse.
Unlike ‘The Road’, ‘Carry Me’ pushes you immediately into the tune as if you are falling but the harmonic instrumentation catches you with a sweeping calm. Reminiscent of Stevie Wonder, the piano drives the single in a nostalgic flood of soul. Dynamic guitars meet bold drums bringing up the rear however, it is Lesedi’s saxophone that inserts a deeper sense of “this is effing awesome” soul.
San Reetam explains that ‘Carry Me’ “is a song about the negative effects that social media can have on mental health and the importance of having good friends”, and it is this collision of despair with an upbeat melody that enhances the song’s complexity. MDB further shares:
“There is a deliberate juxtaposition between the up-tempo mood of the song and the tense, introspective nature of the lyrics. In a way, this reflects the essence of what it is to present one feeling to the outside world while harbouring something quite different internally, something that perhaps only your close friends will ever know… a duet between a male and female voice gives contrast not only in musical timbre but perspective.”
Find out more about San Reetam on their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more stirring soul tunes on The Other Side Reviews Soul playlist:
