The fourth single from Toronto-based artist Marshall Jacklin, “Jonathan” stirs with beautiful piano playing and emotively inspiring vocals. Jacklin — who writes, produces, performs, and records all his material — bridges heartfelt lyricism and eclectic inspirations, spanning from jazz to hip-hop and rock. Jazz and lounge-friendly settings seem appropriate here, succeeding comprehensively. It’s quite a different stylistic arsenal than previously featured single “Movement,” and is further indication of Jacklin’s immense strengths as a songwriter and producer.
An opening piano twinkle provides vibrancy, with shades of Joe Hisaishi’s Spirited Away score. A more caressing, lounge-set piano drive appears quickly thereafter, complemented by Jacklin’s riveting vocal presence — reminding fondly of Rufus Wainwright’s gripping presence. The jazz-touched, sporadic piano pushes build with enjoyable momentum thereafter, prancing at the two-minute turn and into a cathartic vocal soaring as the final minute arrives. Its piano work gorgeous enough to stand alone, “Jonathan” also benefits from Jacklin’s commanding vocal presence; it’s a thorough success from the artist.
Jacklin elaborates further on the track:
“Disappointment is known to us all. There are seasons we fail to achieve what we set out to accomplish. Sometimes, this is so painful we stop wanting altogether. The line between acceptance and defeat, between persistence and masochism, is difficult to navigate.
These past few months I’ve grown so scared I don’t even feel the fear anymore—my oldest friend, big nothing, hocking its wares, professing itself as home. This is a character song. Still, like the speaker in “Jonathan”, I wish to find the courage to want again too.
Musically, the piano arrangement pulls heavily from my love of the album Nina Simone and Piano! and vocally from ANOHNI’s speed-shifting vibrato. In the mix, subtle sonic choices, such as roughing up the reverbs by sending them through old radio speakers and heavily distorting some of the piano microphones through classic tube preamps, combine with modern vocal processing to deepen the intersection between the wearing of age and the excitement for being alive in the now.”
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
