In recent years, the presence of seamless blends within soul-jazz music, hip-hop and electronic soundscapes have been making tremendous waves with its’ epicenter in the UK. The amalgamation of these genres creates a soul-stirring backdrop to great storytelling made possible by even better artists. Enter Sam Wills, and his soulfully cathartic slow-burn “Light On Me.”
“Light On Me” is featured on the Hastings, UK singer’s debut EP So Bright (released May 13, 2016 via NxtGen Records via NxtGen Records) , and has been highly anticipated following his recent collaborations with rising-star/producer Tom Misch and Pablo Nouvelle.
Listen: “Light On Me” – Sam Wills
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At its forefront, “Light On Me” is reminiscent of a cool summer’s breeze, dancing through wind chimes – or even one sitting peacefully on a mountaintop, looking over a mesmerizing body of water. It metaphorically bleeds summer love: The kind that makes the blazing sun, wilderness adventures and late night stargazing amazing experiences and feelings.
Melodically, its groove is whimsical in approach, while teetering the line of jazz-club sensuality and soul music’s acclaimed heartfelt terrain. Sam Wills’ vocally trained-airy croon paints its way through the Jordan Rakei and Karma Kid produced track.
Wait up with me
I wanna paint the sky, the sky
A dark now it seems that
I wanna watch it come to life
As a listener, “Light On Me” provides a front row seat to the singers’ deepest thoughts, escaping for loves’ sake.
Possibly the most stripped down part of “Light On Me” comes in at the bridge, as Wills is asking his lover to essentially trust him. No need to doubt his intentions as the UK soul singer promises that everything will be alright and any obstacles that may be faced, will simply move with love and its endless possibilities.
And when the morning breaks
You’ll be shaking
But don’t be afraid, no
Just follow where I take you
I will make you home
And now as we wait
We built our escape
I wanna see the mountains moving within our way
Quite honestly, “Light On Me” is also a love letter, deeply rooted in the singer/songwriter’s desired intimacies; signed, sealed and delivered in vulnerability. It moves through many different emotions as it does harmonies and textures, creating over a minute of instrumentals featuring a sickening guitar riff towards its latter end. The ending is an ad libbed outro, posing as an “afterthought” that would conjure up daydreams about love and its prized immortality, sending “Light On Me” up into the air like a floating balloon.
