“Stevie” by “Choo Jackson” is a song that brings about a unique meeting of genres in a way that seems all at once nostalgic and previously unheard. Choo Jackson is a talented singer & rapper who comes from Pennsylvania.
The song surrounds you with appropriately heavy musicality and emotion. For this moment the melody, the hook, is less complex than the lyrics, making this an unusual structural choice. The lines of verse have a certain poetic quality, the simplicity of the opening lines, followed by fuller, more detailed and expressive sentences. All of this leads fiercely into the hook, at which point there’s a clear level of further space around the lines, and a slight drop in intensity – emotion comes with power; This melancholy, deeply reflective, questioning moment.
There’s something very specific about Choo Jackson’s creative use of synths; Sometimes retro – like old school games – sometimes seemingly new. It brings you a special sound and energy that nothing else can match. On the one hand, there is this soft and dreamy riff; Subtle, minimal in its use of notes, and memorable as any ambient tune should be. On the other hand, it essentially creates something completely new and compelling to listen to.
The musical atmosphere allows you to escape, let your mind wander, and then consider these ideas and try to come to some kind of conclusion about what it means and how it relates to itself. It’s interesting, especially when the music or lyrics arise from personal experiences, but it also connects with different people in different ways and then creates their own stories and thoughts.
It’s a solid release, and it’s nice to hear something new from Choo Jackson. His creativity always stays true to his own artistic sense, so the sound is authentic, and in some ways experimental, but real and meaningful.
