Stella Soul – What Can I Do (2020)
The last year has been a rollercoaster for most people and it is easy to feel that life is constantly knocking you down. This negativity is something that vocalist Kentya fo Stella Soul felt, but with the help of bandmates JMB (vocals, keys) and Cameron Lawrence (drums), she was able to turn her emotions into an uplifting single. ‘What Can I Do’ considers the knocks that we take in life, but encourages us to stay positive in the face of them.
The inspiration for the single started three weeks after the band releases their album Cherry St. in February 2020. The pandemic hit cancelling their tour followed by the Black Lives Matter protests which stirred up a lot of emotions for Kentya. She was then faced with the loss of her job, but was still able to continue making beautiful music. Together with the band, she has turned the negatives of life into something touching, engaging and uplifting.
The opening beats of ‘What Can I Do’ set a positive vibe for the single. The pulsing tones have a lightness to them that threads its way into a dreamy soundscape. A wave of neo-soul enters through these dreamy tones to rest under the cotton softness that has been created. There is a gently sway to the melody that you can lean back into and allow it to lift your spirits.
JMB’s vocals rest lightly on the melody and consider the knocks of life. He takes you through rolling with the punches before filling you with a positive vibe on the chorus. This is where he is joined by Kentya’s vocals that have a subtle power to them as they rest just behind his performance. Her higher vocals create a wonderful counterpoint to his smooth vibes. Through the performance, you are encouraged to make a change and filled with the positive vibes that make this possible.
Stella Soul turns the negatives of life into positive change with the easy and soulful single ‘What Can I Do’. The melody uses waves of neo-soul sounds and light threads to draw you to JMB’s vocals. He fills you with positivity backed up by Kentya and turns this into encouragement to make a difference.
Find out more about Stella Soul on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
