‘Jamaica’ – the new single from singer-songwriter Stevie Zita – tells the story of a loved one overseas, and all the worrying and turmoil that comes with that separation.
With a flick of the hand, the snappy strum of the guitar starts the track. I loved the slightly scratchy, lo-fi sound. A little distortion gives it a gritty, analogue flavour that has bags of character.
The beat is kept quite dry – a good choice as this means it feels close and it complements the guitars nicely. A warm sub bass rumbles beneath the surface, adding a warm glow. When the rides arrive, they add a sparkle which opens things up.
Stevie’s voice has a razor-sharp tone – like frost on a winter’s morning. It’s a sweet contrast to the warm evocation of the song’s title. To me, the distinctive drawl and slight punk snarl is like a cross between Thom Yorke and vintage Iggy Pop. Words are stretched and pulled into anguished cries:
I don’t mean to go on about this and that
I don’t care if you’re late, just make it back
I tend to just worry when plans get all blurry, you know.
So hurry back home”.
Those simple guitar chords are a great base for that melody, which swells and dips, perfectly capturing the song’s yearning and heartache:
These days it is take it or leave it
She says she feels alone, I don’t believe it
I know your leaving but it would be nice to know when
The song is over in under 3 minutes, and it ends abruptly – with questions still unanswered. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Stevie – but in the meantime, I know a good travel agent…
Written by Grubby
