JOHNAÉ ELEASE - Headphones

What’s always been intriguing about a lot of music in the last few years is how little it likes to talk about itself. The joy of music generates such positive feelings and emotions; it is central to a lot of events in our lives. Yet, few musicians seem to want to express the simple pleasure of just listening to music for whatever reason, whether it be to feel happiness or try and break through moments of negativity and anxiety. On Johnaé Elease’s latest single, “Headphones”, she explores both sides of the desire to listen to music in an effervescent and laid-back folk-pop track. A kind of spiritual successor to “Put Your Records On”, Corinne Bailey Rae’s song about finding confidence through music (the singer is one of Elease’s major influences) “Headphones” is largely guided through the vocal work of Elease, whose high notes recall a slew of early 2000s pop/R&B crossover artists such as Alicia Keys.

The voice you hear on “Headphones” is one of much practice and experience due to Elease’s experiences growing up around musicians, most notably her mother, who has sung with major gospel groups such as the Hawkins family. Its lyrics are direct and poignant: a song simply about just how great listening to songs can be when one is in a time of great anxiety, something that Elease says she was feeling around the time of writing the song 5 years ago. It’s only right then to say that “Headphones” prove that hard work pays off.

Catch 'Headphones' on Spotify: