Versoul – Eternal (2022)
With a focus on creating unique alternative hip-hop and RnB music, Versoul is making a strong statement with her EP Eternal. Highlighting the unique musical flows of her sound, she electrifies listeners through each of the six tracks, while consistently showcasing her evolution as an artist. As she lets her personality shine, she offer direct and outspoken lyrics for a powerful and mesmerising collection of tracks.
Combining a passion for rapping and meaningful lyricism, Versoul brings vulnerable expression and outstanding resilience to the challenges we face in life. Growing up captivated by the music of RnB, neo-soul and hip-hop greats, she uses her musicality to transform pain and trauma into power and triumph. Transforming the challenges and pain we face on a daily basis into a message of living life to the full, she inspires listeners to start the journey of learning self-love.
The EP opens with ‘Better’ and its deep piano line that leads you to slightly more hip-hop beats. There is a wonderful blend of sounds that comes through the melody, with the delicate piano line meeting jittery beats. Riding the melded soundscape are Versoul’s rap vocals that run through the verses into a more melodic chorus. Her performance is like the melody as it blurs the lines between genres, showcasing her mastery of each through her ability to combine them perfectly. Through this fusion soundscape, the lyrics touch on a tender question that many people have asked at some point. It is a wonderful opening to the EP that really sets your expectations for what is to come.
‘Like We Used To’ uses a progressive melody to hold your attention with a complete change in the melodic flow compared to the opening track. There is a heavier RnB touch to this track as it taps into elements of retro and contemporary RnB. This comes together for a late-night feeling that makes you want to move to the track’s rhythm. Her vocals curl around your senses and draw you further under the spell of the track while casting your mind back in time to a moment that was easier than right now. While the vocals continue the RnB touches of the single, there is a run of paced vocals that edges toward the rap of the opening track. The turn in the performance highlights the versatility of Versoul’s music.
This versatility continues into ‘Slow Down’ which blends the feelings of the last two tracks while pushing you into the thoughts of the lyrics. The opening is tender and touching before her vocals roll through your senses with a seriously paced rap. Everything slows down for the chorus as she calls for all of us to take a moment and breathe. Through the lyrics, she considers the pace of the world and how we can often feel that we can’t slow down to take time for ourselves or ask for help. This message comes through perfectly in the melodic flow and delivery of the vocals that run, only to slow for a walk across the chorus.
‘Free’ has an electronic scratch to the organic instrumentation that is new to the EP and brings a strange feeling with it. There is a darkness in the opening that is echoed in the opening line of the vocals that also carry a light electronic edge to them. Through the opening verse, Versoul taps into feelings of not fitting in while the melody creates the feeling of being on the outside looking in. It is a very different track to the rest of the EP and carries a much heavier feeling to it. Even when the rap vocals hit, there is a new edge to them as they punch at you. While the track has a feeling of not belonging, there is something resting in the lower levels that makes you feel like you can break free from this feeling and find the place where you fit in. This is the longest track on the EP, but you don’t really notice this as you slowly march through the emotions.
The music heads back to more RnB territory with ‘Sacrifice’ and the almost delicate line that opens it. Versoul’s vocals hit her hip-hop rap stride in this track, emphasised by the drums. There is a bop that comes through on the melody that matches the punctuation of her performance to get you lightly moving to the flow. While there is a clear beat and movement to the melody, the track is quite soft as she taps into the little pieces of ourselves that we give up for others. While touching on this, Versoul takes us on an empowering journey to regain these pieces of ourselves and move forward with renewed strength.
The EP comes to a close with ‘Time’ which has a slightly retro feeling to the opening that taps into some neo-soul vibes. The vocals bring the contemporary edge of the track before the shuffle of the beats. It is a rather decadent mixture of old and new that echoes the message of the lyrics. This track is a great way to end the EP as you tap into the past and present to move forward with your head held high. The track continues to highlight Versoul’s vocal abilities as she moves from her paced raps into an addictive melodic flow on the chorus. By the time the track ends, you will be so under her spell you will be rather shocked that there isn’t more to the EP.
Through the tracks of her EP Eternal, Versoul taps into different musical styles, personal experiences and emotional challenges to inspire a journey of self-love. Each track has a unique edge while showcasing the versatility of her music. Flowing from hip-hop raps to smooth neo-soul melodics, her music is easy to sink into as you ride the thoughts in the lyrics.
Find out more about Versoul on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Spotify.
