Jocelyn Kennedy – “Walk On By”

Jocelyn Kennedy – “Walk On By” – Single Review

Hmmmmmmmm…

You know something?  I think I fuck with this new Jocelyn Kennedy single.

Having said that, I don’t want you to get the impression that that will be your immediate reaction.

The regular readers of these pages know I like a challenge, and from the very first notes of “Walk On By” that was exactly what I got coming through my speakers.  I was like…is this voice going to connect with the people out there?  What about all those notes and tones that sound like they’re melting in the sun as you listen?  Will the masses be able to dig that?  We’re talking about some fairly significant obstacles that present themselves pretty damn quickly after you click play on Kennedy’s brand-new track from the upcoming mixtape, called Flow.  While I’d be the first to tell you that this approach can be hit and miss with the general public and the limitations of their short attention spans, for folks that really dig hearing something different, everything at the start of “Walk On By” instantly points towards the kind of genuine uniqueness that should be celebrated in the music we listen to.  Just because we might struggle a bit to understand or comprehend something we hear shouldn’t send us running in the other direction.

I’d tell ya it should have the complete opposite effect…that’s precisely when you should sit down and really listen.  This is the kind of soup that eats like a meal y’all, so put down your spoon and fork the fuck up, because Jocelyn has got the kind of sound that your brain can really chew on.  Think of an artist like Kennedy as the close cousin to what you’ve heard happening in the hazy, laidback grooves of Dope Lemon as of late.  It’s that soulful vibe that can’t help but find a way to convince your ears of its quality, even if you might find yourself resisting at first.  Trust me when I tell ya, cause I’m speaking from experience here…a single spin through “Walk On By” is one thing, but the subsequent listening you’ll put into it is altogether different.  That’s the effect of real authenticity and uniqueness when it comes right down to it…we innately battle against it, not by choice, but by instinct.  It’s a reactionary thing us humans do, and if we don’t recognize that, we can often cost ourselves the opportunity to experience something really damn cool, just like this song right here from Jocelyn.  You might very well not be convinced you’re going to enjoy what you’re hearing right from the get-go…but I’d be more than willing to bet that they have won you over before the song is even finished, and in the event that hasn’t happened, it’ll only take another spin to prove me right.  When you’re hearing something different, it will always take your ears and your brainwaves a moment to absorb the punch of uniqueness…but rather than run from that, I invite you to embrace that feeling and let it be a guide to some of the most exciting art that you’ll hear.

So yeah…ultimately the verdict is good here, if not great.  Do I think Jocelyn is taking a few liberties and risks with the level of potential accessibility in this tune?  Perhaps, but in the end I think there’s more than enough to secure a victory with the court of public opinion.  The reality to tunes like “Walk On By” is that the main risk is that any song that doesn’t possess an easy-to-digest sound right from the drop of pushing play ends up fighting a bit of an uphill battle before finding its way to acceptance.  Stick with this though y’all…whether it’s the soulful singing or the brilliant bars you’ll find embedded into this song further on down the road as it continues on, you’ll discover plenty that you will be thankful you didn’t miss out on.  As I stated earlier, I like a challenge – but what I like even more is the opportunity to be convinced, and it felt like Kennedy ended up exceeding all expectations by playing the long game instead of going with the kind of instant gratification we’ve all become so accustomed to in modern-day music.

It ends up becoming quite the tale of redemption in its own way, by showing you how quickly you can come to love a tune you might not have even been sure about at all from the first time you heard it, but by the end, you’ll realize this is a sensationally smooth & soulful sound you won’t want to stop listening to.  Produced by Liam Keen, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this first impression of Flow, and I’m fully confident that you’ll come to realize Kennedy might just have one of the more addictive vibes you’ll want to hear coming out of your speakers this year.

Find out more about Jocelyn Kennedy by visiting their official page at Instagram here:  https://www.instagram.com/jocelyynkennedy

Ya ha!  This link right here is the key to being the next artist or band featured here at sleepingbagstudios, so instead of just ignoring it, click it instead!