Kika Morelan - Do You Hear What I Hear
Pop, Adult Contemporary, Christmas
Washington, United States
Overall Impression: Kika Morelan offers a cleverly crafted contemporary spin on a beloved Christmas classic with her rendition of "Do You Hear What I Hear"! Bearing the soulful underpinnings of Pop R&B and an explosive dose of emotionally-charged Rock, "Do You Hear What I Hear" begins in a place of sonorous intimacy and gradually evolves into a boisterous and joyful exclamation of holiday cheer - first immersing listeners through familiar lyrical melodies and then delighting them with innovative executions for a fully memorable experience!
Strongest Point(s): The strongest aspect of this version of "Do You Hear What I Hear" is the depth and drive of Kika Morelan's voice - perfectly mirroring the track's still beginnings with a light and airy tone, and then masterfully pairing wide-open vocal energies with soaring lead guitar to deliver a deeply cathartic musical journey. The harmonies that support throughout are well-implemented and provide much spatial depth and emotional context for the lead part. Excellent instrumental performances across the board, with the drums and bass specifically presenting richness of sound without overshadowing the vocal lead. Stellar guitar feature, and sublime tone there as well. The result is a beautifully assembled take on a familiar favorite - with surprising passages like the descending figure at 3:23 keeping things interesting along the way!
Target Audience Appeal: Kika Morelan's "Do You Hear What I Hear" offers a fresh take on a much-loved Christmas favorite - elevating the familiar tune with an instrumental complexity and a musical maturity that promise to catch the ears and stir the hearts of nearly any who listen in! Serving as the third track from Morelan's 2020 release, The Magic of Christmas, "Do You Hear What I Hear" makes for a passionate introduction to the artist's creative realm, and stands to convert any passing listener into a brand new fan!
Artist target suggestions: Lauren Daigle, Amy Grant, Natalie Grant, Sara Groves, Nicole C. Mullen, Mariah Carey, Francesca Battistelli, Steffany Gretzinger, Elle Limebear, Amanda Lindsey Cook, Maggie Reed, Emmy Rose, Hope Darst, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Diana Krall
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About the Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with nearly twenty years of experience in the field. Working with musicians and their individual sounds is his passion and profession, and he strives to interact with and understand every aspect of the production process - from theory and songwriting to recording and mastering. He continues to teach students of all ages and is currently collaborating with artists in a wide variety of genres.