Jako Draco leads with his own style on this latest single Alone. From the offset you can hear this carefree fusion of melody and rap, even his tone of voice presents a laid-back, unique approach to performance – or rather, it showcases a sheer and uninhibited love for the art form and this particular kind of music.
Alone is a smooth track, bringing together elements of hip hop and rap alike, offering a light beat and plenty of color in terms of the various synths and layers that make up the soundscape. There’s an uplifting and joyful feel to the whole thing, even seeming slightly hip hop-cafe inspired on occasion. Meanwhile, Jako Draco’s lyricism and his voice introduce the driving factor behind the song’s sense of character and purpose. The story-line holds close to the artist’s personal truth, which consistently remains in line with that carefree, energized and confident tone of voice. All of which leads this to be an authentic piece of writing and music, with a great groove.
The main line and its melody spin around in your head after hearing the track even just once, but this is not in some kind of ear-worm, intrusive rap manner. Essentially, it’s a sound of his own – he’s managed to crack this with one single, and the songwriting fortunately hits the mark with ease as well.
What works about this is that structurally there are these two equally unpredictable yet satisfying sections. The initial moments, the verses, the first vocal – this all presents a certain sense of anticipation or gradually rising intensity. Then you get the second section, the higher vocal line, the more minimal and resolved gathering of notes – this moment feels like the peak, the light at the end of the tunnel. And meanwhile, as this songwriting set-up captures your affection, the soundscape too works in unison with the varying ideas – the music moves from quiet and spacious, to vibrant and full; filling the room with immense energy and power.