Come on Answer Me

Rhona Stevens

Experimenting with sound and blending genres is something many artists have tried over the years, to varying success. Some do it to push their own creativity, some merely to stand out in a genre bottlenecking with options, and for some it is just the most natural thing in the world. From listening to the latest release from Glaswegian singer/songwrtier Rhona Stevens it is clear that she is part of the latter.

Across all of her releases to date Rhona has always toed the line between R’n’B, Jazz, and pop. Each track has swam between these elements effortlessly. Each element of the tracks seemingly chosen for its sound rather than its genre. This habit has created some stand out offerings and in ‘Come on Answer Me’ Rhona has seemingly pushed things further and created a track that has a rich and layered soundscape. From its subtle opening to use of sharp stabs on strings each bar has been crafted for full impact.

As the song kicks in your greeted with a low base pulse that puts you in mind of club pop but then immediately Rhona’s voice and delivery throw you into a completely different direction. This contrast of Jazz. Style delivery cuts through your preconception better than diamond through glass. Her voice then continues to be a stand out element of the track. Again each line is delivered with purpose and with exquisite timing. 

One particular part of the song that stands out with her voice and also the composition is the middle eight section towards the end of the song. Not only does Rhona again mix up her vocal delivery, dropping into an almost spoken jazz style but the whole section is led in by a call and response from a lone guitar and a string section. The whole thing, tasty as it is, yes I used the word tasty, has the proverbial cherry on top with the addition of a saxophone line. As it floats along the remaining bars of the song it fully caps off the songs fluid feeling and yet makes you feel like it had been there the whole time, it has just decided to allow itself to be head now. I do love a saxophone.

Overall, and my love of saxophone and anguish at their underuse aside, Rhona Stevens has once again proving that she is a confident songwriter and instrumentalist, at home in any style of music.  With the likes of Soul, Jazz and even Afro beat inspired music under her belt I, along with her growing audience can merely speculate on what she will turn her talented hands to next.

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