“Mama!” is the impactful second single from London-based artist VERONICA, blending soul-pop sensibilities with colorful jazz harmonies. Drawing influence from D’Angelo’s “Really Love,” the track frames the mother figure as a vital sanctuary against emotional vulnerability. Soulful vocals and memorable string arrangements create a heartfelt success, elegantly expanding the visceral storytelling established on her debut single “Ground To Dust.”
Beautifully haunting piano work opens the track, complemented by heart-tugging strings quickly thereafter as a cinematic sense of balladry establishes. VERONICA’s soulful vocals emerge cohesively, introspective and smooth-flowing in perspectives of one’s troubled thoughts — pervading so much that “they’re gonna kill me” if she is unable to let them go. Times of tumult lead artfully to a quick succession of “mama” vocal lines, as VERONICA’s vocals reminisce: “Mama used to show me some solutions.” The framing of a mother as a source for comfort and guidance is eloquently conveyed throughout, both in the contemplative verses and catchy, direct central hook.
The track’s string arrangements are also gorgeous, performed live by musicians from Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Sky-gazing mourning pairs with the strings for an especially resonant moment, bolstered further by a tender, soulful guitar solo that coexists wonderfully with magnetic piano work and slight, jazzy percussion. A heart-on-sleeve success showing both gratitude for a mother’s presence and a sense of isolation when that presence no longer endures, “Mama!” is a consuming track from VERONICA.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Indie Funk, Soul, and R&B’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
