Joe Murphy – Prosperity (2022)
Progressive RnB guitarist, Joe Murphy, has been amazing listeners with the richness of his sound as he leads up to his upcoming album. ‘Prosperity’ is one of the tracks that have been capturing the attention of people across the world. With a wonderful blend of pop, neo-soul, RnB and lo-fi, the single draws you into his stunning instrumentation, while leaving you in awe of his guitar playing.
The instrumental track enthrals the senses and leaves you wanting more, or for the single to never really end. Soft yet moving, it draws on his skills that have been honed over the years. Murphy’s musical journey began with piano and theory lessons that led to him going to the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, where he met aspiring RnB artist, L’Rockett, with whom he collaborated.
‘Prosperity’ uses a slow-building opening, driven by a piano, to draw you into the single. As the piano line slowly pulls you in, an almost ambient sound swells in the low levels, which the toe-tapping beat rises from. It is a really soft opening that carefully cradles you into the movement, while floating forward into the body of the single. The guitar makes a short appearance, teasing you with its rich soulful sound, before retreating once again. The vocals that burst out are rather unexpected and throw you for a little loop, before you are picked up again by the instrumentation. The soulful touches of the guitar tickle your senses as it rubs against you, before running away again. As you wait for the next meeting with the guitar, a light sparkling overtone adds a twinkle of brightness to the soundscape.
Between the layers of music, you can feel the intertwining of different musical styles. There is a smooth soulful flow of the guitar that meets the deeper twanging guitar notes of RnB and blues. This is all washed with some li-fi sensibilities that make the single one you can easily relax into. The peaceful vibes that seep through the music into your spirit are fantastic and have you leaving all your worries at the door. The stunning interplay of the different instruments and musical arrangements is a true testament to the prowess of Murphy’s musicality. That singular burst of vocals is a great addition that adds texture and unique flavour to the track.
Blending soulful guitar slides that tease the senses, sparkling upper tones and an addictive melodic arrangement, Joe Murphy has you sinking into the instrumentation of ‘Prosperity’. The primarily instrumental track only has a single burst of vocals that add a unique touch to the sound. Each instrument shines while merging into a gentle river of sound.
Find out more about Joe Murphy on his Instagram and Spotify.
