On his latest single It’s in the Water, the Dutch singer-songwriter delves deep into intricate funk-soul arrangements and pastoral sounds. Yet beneath the homely grooves, there is an air of unpredictability: the song shifts and turns, creating an ever-so-slight unease beneath it’s nostalgic sparkle.
The sumptuous vocal arrangements and twinkling organ create an intriguing sound that is ethereal to the core, and hits you in a sublime kind of way. It’s clear this is a tightly controlled affair, but also receptive to progressive whims. You feel as though it could launch into something divergent at any time, and that feeling is exciting.
Above all, this is great songwriting. That being said, it’s far from a conventional approach. You can tell that Traa was trained as a jazz musician. Highly melodic and rhythmic throughout, there’s a lot crammed into 3 minutes. It reveals more and more upon repeated listens.
You can stream It’s in the Water on all streaming platforms now.
