JARDE SALASE - Dance With The Devil

Influenced by iconic artists like The Beatles, Badfinger, Billy Joel, and Gerry Rafferty, this release stands out for its classic pop sensibilities and timeless appeal.

By Grace

3/10/20251 min read

On rotation: JARDE SALASE "DANCE WITH THE DEVIL"

Jarde Salase, a Ugandan-born and London-based singer-songwriter , recently released his latest single, “Dance With The Devil”, which is a nostalgic track filled with lyrical storytelling. Highlighting an emotional narrative over timeless melodies, the track is a reminder of love, loss, and the human condition. The song perfectly showcases Salase’s ability for merging classic pop and acoustic rock, having been inspired by classics like The Beatles, Oasis, Badfinger, Billy Joel, and Gerry Rafferty.

Recorded between London and Sydney, “Dance With The Devil” has a warm, organic sound from start to finish. Like many acoustic rock songs, the acoustic guitar takes center stage from the first note and is accompanied by layered harmonies and subtle instrumentation that add a vintage charm. The production, which was driven by John Schiavo, has a full-bodied arrangement, while session drummer Nando Pettinato’s work adds a depth that enhances the song's volume. The result is a track that feels like a lost gem from the golden age of singer-songwriters.

Lyrically, “Dance With The Devil” is unique for its haunting and evocative lines about a love that falls apart due to war. From the opening lines, "In the still of the evening, a whisper is betrayed / A haunter in the stone found wicked way” Salase sets a poetic ghostly tone, setting the background in a world of longing, resilience, and destiny The chorus delivers an emotional peak with the lyrics "I dance with the devil in this masquerade / Behind pain smiles lies a love I betrayed", which is an emotional confession of guilt that can’t be seen behind outward composure. The fusion of storytelling and emotion-filled vocals each lyric linger, bound to make listeners reflect on the story.

Sitting somewhere in the intersection of acoustic rock and classic pop, “Dance With The Devil* will appeal to fans of Noel Gallagher, The Lumineers, and James Bay. The lyrics alone make the track easily placed alongside the work from some of the best modern singer-songwriters.