Jessica Nicole Brown - Cigarette
R&B, Reggae
Tennessee, U.S.
Overall Impression: Jessica Nicole Brown brings an infectious energy to her craft, wielding her voice like a musical multi-tool with a broad range and a playful spirit! "Cigarette" features clever lyrical wit, a dazzling horn line, and JNB's stellar vocals over an easy-going instrumental track that seems to draw influences from R&B, Pop, and Reggae. Even for the nicotine-free and the non-smokers out there, the appeal to take up our vice of choice during life's most challenging days resonates deeply and JNB's musical expression brilliantly captures the bittersweet relief we find in our minor moments of indulgence.
Strongest Point(s): The overall feel and flow of "Cigarette" is smooth and soulful - drawing listeners in from the very first bars and delivering an emotionally resonant listening experience all the way through. Lyrically, Jessica Nicole Brown presents an image that connects on an intimate level, immediately outlining a painful series of experiences that set up a massive emotional resolution in the pre-chorus and chorus. The framing of the song as a conversation between the singer and her mother gives the song depth and weight, with lyrics like "Don't be a fighter, just hand me that lighter," and, "You can have one too and I won't tell on you," conveying a strong sense of the relationship between the two in just a few lines. The audio production is crystal clear, allowing JNB's vocal talents to shine throughout the track - with a personal favorite being the transition into the second verse, "Everybody loves Batman, but I relate to the Joker," with a production emphasis on "Batman" that produces a smile on every listen-through. Each section of the track feels distinct, and JNB's use of space between the parts allows each to hit as hard as it possibly can, certainly so during the choruses. Jessica's vocals are without question the hardest-working aspect of "Cigarette", creating both soaring lead melodies and rich background textures from start to finish. True to life, once the cigarette's been lit, the song calms down for a clever change of pace into the outtro.
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of independent, humorous, and creatively engaging artists will find a great deal to enjoy in all of Jessica Nicole Brown's work - though "Cigarette" has the potential to resonate among fans of Pop, R&B, Reggae, and Indie through its uplifting sound and relatable lyricism.
Artist target suggestions: Tune-Yards, Caroline Rose, Courtney Barnett, Phantogram, Father John Misty, Andrew Bird, Generationals, Caribou, Broken Bells, White Denim, TV On The Radio, WILLOW, Lizzo, The Books, Bibio, Foxygen, Valerie June, Dan Deacon, Yo La Tengo, Beck, The Brook & The Bluff, Alabama Shakes, Unknown Mortal Orchestra
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About the Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with 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 in order to help artists achieve their goals. From theory and songwriting to performance and recording techniques, he continues to teach students of all ages and is currently collaborating with artists across a wide range of genres.