UK soul singer/songwriter Katie Bradley has always had a gift for blending heartfelt emotion with melodic intent, and her new single "Just For You" does not disappoint. An original piece from her upcoming album "Unmasked," this track proves to be a tender memorial to departed family, not so much a song that arrives, but one that emerges and envelops you in its gentle resolve.
"Just For You" opens with this ghostly sigh right out of the gate, just a few bars deep. Katie's warm, tender voice skates across a soft bed of instrumentation, leaving room for each word to sink in. Moving away from political issues, the production, recorded with the skilled hands of Andy Ross at Manchester Astar Studios, adds depth that almost feels like it comes from another dimension. But it isn't hard to picture the scene in this song, staring up at the vast night sky, whispering to someone who is so far out of reach, promising that love extends beyond death's final goodbye.
The emotional honesty with which "Just For You" is delivered makes it quite moving. And Katie, she comforts you instead of sobbing in sorrow. The lyrics and how she gives them speak to loss while also emanating a sense of tender strength. It has that feeling of talking to the dearly departed again, but even more so, a listener who is listening to see if they have ever heard the ache. This frankness elevates the song from personal reflection into something much larger, a communal act of release.
The track also introduces the expansive "Unmasked" on which Katie intertwines pop, rock, and jazz influences to create an album entirely her own. Featuring additional appearances from Steve Power on keyboards, Olly Collins on bass, and Simon Moore on drums, the project pays homage to her Yorkshire heritage, as well as to her current residence in Troyes, France, which lends it an international appeal while ensuring that it remains personal.
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