Venturing across the Caribbean Sea, I happened to come across a polished gem that is yearning for the world to experience his shine: young and upcoming artist J.R.P Seriel.
Allow me to introduce you to your next eclectic
earworm: J.R.P Seriel is a singer/songwriter, record producer and poet from
Puerto Rico, embarking on a journey to share his music with fans from all over
the world. Developing a passion for virtuosic singing from the early age of
ten, J.R.P Seriel was inspired to craft original music in his early adolescent
years after hearing the music of artists like Lorde, Tame Impala and Kate Bush.
Being a proud musician, undeterred by autism and synaesthesia, J.R.P Seriel is back with latest album ‘Oasis’ – bigger, brighter, and better than ever!
Without further ado, let’s take a dive into some of
the songs from ‘Oasis’ that have made it an album to listen to on repeat!
*
One of my favourite tracks from this album is of the
name ‘Moonlight’ and shimmers with an iridescence appropriate of its title! Adorned
with a kittenish celerity, the guitar riff is combed into billowing tresses of
infectious arpeggios. Isolated initially, the guitar pirouettes to the edge of
the vocal tacet, leaping from the peak with an eruptive emergence of J.R.P Seriel’s
vocals. Like gold lacquer lacing around ceramic, Seriel’s sultry, zesty voice
pours over the soft percussive chasms that the mellow drumming acquaints us
with as the track progresses.
Sung with high-pitched purity and energised synergy,
the harmonies created between the vocal and instrumental compositions is
reminiscent of an explosive beach party across a romantic shoreline. The
listener feels as if they are dancing in the middle of a mirthful gathering,
curling their feet around the pearly sand, bathed in silver moonlight. It is
simply angelic.
The soulful rhythm of the track is satisfyingly
smooth, made unique with the smatterings of Spanish-inflected spice that
permeates across the entirety of the single, carrying us towards a lulling
diminuendo in which the listener is reminded to:
‘Breathe in / Breathe out.’
Echoing how soothing the track is, even within the
darting dynamics of the chorus, I don’t oft hear high-energy bops that make me
feel at ease, whilst simultaneously making me want to grab a beer and jive!
*
The next track we will be looking into is titled ‘Footsteps’
which – alike all of J.R.P Seriel’s songs from ‘Oasis’ – was produced from the
ground up entirely independently; the mirthful twang of his guitar riffs acting
as the foundation. Seriel has stated that this album is divided into two lanes:
the tranquil, earthy mood of his more chilled, alleviated melodies, contrasting
brilliantly to the glimmering, glittering otherworldliness of psychedelia. With
‘Footsteps’, I feel like the listener experiences the perfect balance of both
brushstrokes.
Playful pizzicatos, Alborosie-reminiscent vocals and
razor-spitting percussive elements are what the listener can expect with
‘Footsteps’. Stirred together impeccably, the melody within the track are
spiced with flicks of acidic haziness in J.R.P Seriel’s vocal performance;
tempered only by the crisp, honed pulses of that power-plunked drumbeat.
Bombinating with buzzy timbres, the encompassing
rhythm polishes that buzz within the track’s tightly-knitted, polyphonic
textures. J.R.P Seriel is ten paces ahead with his producing/mixing talents,
every element shines just enough to not send the track snowballing into an
incoherent mania. I tip my hat to J.R.P Seriel!
*
‘I get up in the morning / And question / My mission.’
So starts one of the most introspective songs from
‘Oasis’: ‘Come Alive’.
‘Oasis’ being J.R.P Seriel’s fifth album, following a
kaleidoscope of tonalities in prior albums like ‘Reverie’ and ‘Voltage’, the
Puerto-Rican prodigy elected for a stripped-down, more natural feel for his
latest endeavour. For me, ‘Come Alive’ is the epitome of the honest, emotive
manner in which these latest tracks are constructed with.
Tethered to a poignant composition, the guitar
progressions are mellifluously embellished with feather-light chiming that acts
a sugar-sweet – almost childlike – peek into the looking glass. Crafted
delicately, the harmonies concoct a romantic dreamscape, reminiscent of the
rippling reflection of stars atop a moonglade, ebbing between the silky-soft
adagio tempos.
Homely and down-to-earth, the vocals compliment the
loud-quiet dynamics, displaying slivers of haunting, morose depth in every
note.
What was most impressive to me, especially after
hearing ‘Come Alive’, was how well-executed every tonal shift was across the
album. Covering topics like meditation, nature, and introspection,
incorporating characteristics from a multitude of genres, J.R.P Seriel has uncovered
brilliant shades of humanity across this album.
*
‘Oasis’ is the latest album from Puerto-Rican
singer/songwriter J.R.P Seriel, and as the title suggests, the tracks are refreshing
and unique as such; this is truly an oasis of spirituality. However, I feel
certain tracks could have a more refined direction. At times, I felt like there
were two albums within ‘Oasis’ that would’ve seemed more appropriate having
been separated.
Regardless of that, the talent of J.R.P Seriel cannot
be understated, and I am without a doubt that this will not be the last we hear
of him!
‘Oasis’ is available to stream now!
J.R.P Seriel's Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4kD2gsmKumRVYx4FChW8mS?si=c-qIzVzYQ-md0sbil90FxQ
J.R.P Seriel's Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jomarrodriguezp/
J.R.P Seriel's SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/jrp-seriel-722222106?id=873986305
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