Charlotte Kerbs and the Strays ’s latest single “Janis” is a three minute and forty two smash, taking a world famous sample and fusing it with raw energy, fresh production, and one of their most memorable hooks and underlying concepts yet. It’s one that gets better with every listen. Charlotte Kerbs and the Strays are one of the amazing musicians from Finland and they always try to bring something new to all the audience out there with a great vibe.
From a songwriting perspective, the track utilizes a few concise ideas and lines, and these make up the bulk of the melodic or sung moments. The driving forces of the single are its rhythm, its changing pace, its structure, and its meaning – rather than some clear cut story-line or personal touch. Whenever you stumble up on a release that feels far more like an anthem than a simple song to escape to, it’s generally one that has been written in a similar way. The hook’s central idea reaches out to almost anyone, and the creative way in which the track has been crafted gives it a memorable sense of movement that’s likely to be recognized in the future as the sound of this particular piece of music and performance.
Building blocks aside for a moment, this is a beautiful track – the outpouring of melody and rhythm feels increasingly hypnotic and fills the room with uplifting energy and brightness. Charlotte Kerbs and the Strays craft all of their releases in a distinctly emotional manner, which is something you don’t often stumble upon within the arena of experimental electronica or awesome simple music. Once you settle into the melody here, the evolution of the track becomes this all-encompassing journey that seeks (successfully) to bring you both intense escapism and valuable inspiration.
Having had the vibe on the Radar for a while now, her voice and performance style is the sort that comes through with immediate familiarity. In the case of this latest single, the track offers that recognizable style as always, but musically this is definitely one of the most striking and colorful backdrops yet. Charlotte Kerbs and the Strays work in unison with the beat, initially drawing your attention with that well-known intro, later emerging as a uniquely creative blast through vibrancy, bars, and high-powered performance.
The further you get into this, the pace feels as if it gets faster and faster – you’re flying through the moment as everything speeds past and is left behind. The concept of being fully armored could mean something different to everyone who listens – perhaps it’s a feeling of expecting the worst, or one of being categorically prepared and ready for anything. In the case of the latter in particular, the music accompanies that keenness brilliantly.
