Just released during the Valentine’s Day weekend is soulful star Angel Hilson’s brand new single, “Just This Once.” A song about being intensely in love with someone, it’s a fitting song to release during Valentine’s season, though there is a lot of merit to the single itself as well. But the question is, does the new single sound good? That’s what we’re hoping to answer in our “Just This Once” review.
Angel Hilson is one of the more interesting musical acts that’s passed through our review process. As her more commonly known online alias, ‘Angel the Author’, would imply, Angel is first and foremost a writer. Her first novel, “Electric Impulse: Love, Life & Sex,” has garnered over 2 million reads on Wattpad, and she’s only growing more popular with time. With her new single, she’s now branching out even further in new territory and establishing herself as a complete artist.
In terms of sound, it’s instantly apparent that Angel takes some musical influences from legendary female singers such as Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, and Aaliyah. It can almost be considered a retro sound, combining soft synths with pop hints and sultry vocal performances to create a mood. Steady and methodical, “Just This Once” is soft and seductive in all the best ways.
That’s not to say Angel’s style is a cheap imitation or simple mimicry however. In fact, it’s far more impressive how she manages to take this already well-established style of music and then add her own spin on things. Her vocal performance is a highlight of the single, and for a debuting musical artist, it’s overall impressive stuff.
When it comes to songwriting, things are kept simple but effective. Most importantly, the effect lands perfectly. Many moments on the song sound smooth and sexy, with every line being written in a way that accentuates the seductiveness of the performance. It’s a testament to Angel’s prowess as an already established author and writer, which is reflected in her lyrical content too.
Production on the single comes courtesy of Grammy-nominated, multiplatinum producer Jbeatzz and Grammy-winning Master Engineer Kenny Mixx, and their influence is instantly apparent. Mixing and production on the single are immaculate, with instrument separation and every synth hit sounding clean, warm, and inviting. There are no complaints to be had on this end of the spectrum.
Overall, “Just This Once” is a surprisingly competently made single and a fantastic choice of song to use as a debut. It shows off all the performer’s strengths incredibly well, and it simply sounds excellent on top of that. If you’re a fan of old-school soulful singers, Angel Hilson has you covered. According to sources, the official music video is also on the way and is set to release on February 25. Now we’re eager to see that next!
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Link to the single:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4wGmZztAKBEMjcTDhYsc6Q
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Connect with Angel the Author:
https://linktr.ee/angeltheauthor
Not the Usual LICK Publicist! 27 yrs in the biz ~Worldwide! Actual Peer of the Realm~Unitarian Universalist Pragmatic Buddhist~ PROUD GAY Liberal
