James Leon - Zen (To The Power)

Buy Zen (To The Power) here (iTunes UK)

THE SONG:

The way we buy and interact with music has changed so much over the past twenty years - and continues to evolve on a daily basis (what the heck is Tidal?) And while this means there are always new ways to hear the songs we grow to love, what hasn't changed is that there are a whole community of talented singer-songwriters whose music deserves to be on your radar. These are people who are in love with their craft and build the lyrics and melody until they feel it is just right. James Leon is one such artist. Zen (To The Power) has been around since the latter end of 2015 - slowly but surely building an audience of appreciative admirers who get lost in the music (caught in a trap. No turning back, etc). It's easy to see why this has become a slow burn favourite. It is set to a shimmering, sophisticated synth-pop backdrop - the type that sparkles brightly alongside the lyrics and vocals. James sings of not allowing the negative influences in your life to overwhelm you, but to find your inner purpose and stick to being the best you that you can be. "All these stupid fools around me/some days I feel they drown me" is sung with a resonant alacrity that recalls the halcyon days of Erasure, George Michael and Human League. You may think these influences are a bit disparate, yet James skilfully weaves them into his music without ever making the listener feel like he is copying them. Rather he pays respect to the synth artists who forged the way and continues to hone his own sound with that pulsing beat and swirling keyboards. It's a chorus refrain that you'll be singing for days, thanks to it's clever hook and luscious score. Ultimately, it is a song that has stood the test of time and sounds just as delicious now as it did back then.

THE REMIX:

New Kids On The Block once opined that "I love the remix (baby)" and I fully subscribe to their scripture. Back when I was growing up, I was a huge fan of 12" vinyl and all the new variations that format would bring of my favourite tracks. Initially, I would gravitate to the extended versions - anything that would elongate the original 3 minutes into expanded experiences of aural ecstasy. As I developed musical maturity, it was the remixes that grabbed my attention - the way that people like Shep Pettibone, Sleazesisters, Almighty et al would re-invent songs into daring new genres and styles would take my breath away. Often, it would reinvigorate a song that I had loved for months - and that is certainly the case with the DJ Ateljee remix of this song. Since it premiered in July 2016, it kickstarted my love for the song all over again - wisely introducing it to a new audience and giving long time admirers something to know to shimmy along to. The remix stripped the song back to it's roots and recreated it as something bold, dynamic and new - equally as endearing as the original yet a completely different animal. Hand claps are prominent and James' vocal seems more vivid, showing what a great pop singer he actually is. The effect of stripping back the instrumental to only minimal electro infusion allows the opening moments of the track to really focus on the meaning of the lyrics. A textured wall of sound is then introduced with space invader style synth loops and a percussive groove that will have you shimmying along, a slave to the rhythm. You want the music to wash over you, to infuse you with it's peaceful philosophies - and it does that amply, carrying you away on a blissful cloud of beats, beeps and a melody as luxurious as satin sheets. Perfect music for these balmy summer evenings (or to help you shake off the winter blues) when the setting sun makes you feel like anything is possible. When you are Zen To The Power, it certainly is.

THE VIDEO:

And the journey of Zen (To The Power) continues into 2017. And rightly so - we are now gifted with a video to accompany the song, directed by the brilliantly monikered Susan Supercharged (someone make a superhero cartoon about her right now please). It continues to extend the life of the song and will, hopefully, continue to bring in new fans. One has to applaud James for continuing to bring his artistic vision to life (and on his own dime) - it can't be easy in a cutthroat world where only cookie cutter beats and repetitive refrains seem to yield commercial success. The video sees James at various locations across London - and I love the fact that it opens with the most unrealistic of scenarios (a fairly empty tube train that is running on time, with nary a strike in sight)! Clever backdrops and a lovely use of shadow and light bring the song to life in visual ways that complement the lyrics yet also unveil hidden facets to the narrative. There's even a dance routine that James performs, something far too absent from the current world of pop (and done to incorporate the message of the lyrics, so you get the impression that if you joined in at home, you would start to feel more at peace with the world without any of those pricey Yoga classes). And let's not forget that James is giving Debbie Gibson-Electric Youth album cover realness with that hat! Amazing.