Emily Saunders – Mashup (2023)
Described by Jamie Cullum as “absolutely brilliant” and BBC 6’s Gilles Peterson as “one for the jazz dance clubs”, UK-based Emily Saunders blurs the line between organic jazz, electronic beats and a quirky sense of surrealness in her heady concoctions. For over a decade, the chart-topping artist has shared her unique sound gaining a reputation as the “queen of jazz fusion” far beyond her British borders with coverage from the US, Australia, Japan, Abu Dabhi, Uruguay and South Africa (to name but a few).
Following her well-received singles ‘Rugged Waves’ and ‘Moon’, Saunders continues to astound with her eclecticism swirling within the jazz world. ‘Moon’ introduced us to straightforward free jazz before ‘Rugged Waves’ added a Latin-inspired pop to the mix; however, it is ‘Mashup’ that is the diverse mishmash of free jazz, bebop, and jazz fusion wrapped in an electronic swirl of nu-jazz. Difficult to define – although I have tried my best – ‘Mashup’ has you lost in a whirlpool of sound intoxicating you with the kaleidoscopic sonic perfume.
An exclusively DIY project, Saunders writes, records, composes, arranges and produces her melodies. A rollercoaster of sound with stabs of different instrumentation, ‘Mashup’ finds the line between organic and synthetic instrumentation but flips it on its head and scratches away any official divide. Hard-hitting drums and bass are an anchor in this twist and turn of music with a rhythmic harmony floating between the two. A steady jazz base is introduced with some bebop and free jazz elements; however, it is the obscure collision of electropop that makes the single intriguing but simultaneously distorted. Interestingly, the fluttering of Saunders’s smooth vocals crisscross the melody ushering in a haunting appeal calming the disturbing effect.
Discomforting with kaleidoscopic kicks, ‘Mashup’ falls into musical insanity bursting with chaotic headiness. Despite the craziness of it all, the song has a sophisticated presentation with an elegant representation of the poignant theme. Penned as an exposition of a world where millions suffer the loss of their livelihoods, homes, families and security at the hands of “anonymous individuals living in safety and prosperity”, the confusion and recklessness of ‘Mashup’ can be understood. Yet, amidst the madness is a shining light of sincerity and hopefulness. Saunders explains, “The cycle seems endless, but one thing remains unbreakable: the hope that thrives in the human heart.”
In addition to the single, Saunders released an official music video for ‘Mashup’. This video can be viewed below or via her YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses strobes and lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED
For more from Emily Saunders, check out her official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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