With his artistic endeavours to date providing him with a wealth of inspiration, Brooklyn boy Corey Jon is ready to launch his solo music career. He previously starred in Tony award-winning musical ‘Fela!’, produced by Jay-Z and Will and Jada Smith, and with a role in Tommy Matola’s upcoming Broadway show ‘Superfly’ already lined up, he has a busy year ahead of him.
As Corey heads over to London next month for his first ever live UK show at Queen of Hoxton, we took a look at his debut EP, ‘Crazy Glue’ ahead of its release and the show on 7th April.
Title track ‘Crazy Loud’ combines riotous vocals with hyperactive synth. With an electro beat that would dance its way straight into any Black Eyed Peas track from their ‘Boom Boom Pow’ era, the ‘Fela!’ influence is also suggested, with just a hint of Afro-beat pre-chorus. If the Transformers were to throw a party, this track would surely be the soundtrack to that robot rave.
‘Got To Have You’ makes itself feel right at home in the category of more traditional pop R ‘n’ B, as does ‘Long Stroke’. Echoes of an Usher or Chris Brown vocal combine with airy keys to create a mature brand of pop that is sure to go down a treat with chart lovers.
Standout track ‘Matters’ moves away from the urban power pop of the rest of the EP, understatedly venturing into soulful, liquid R ‘n’ B. Drawing comparisons to The Weeknd and Omarion’s ‘Icebox’, Corey’s echoing vocals and spacey composition show us his softer side, as he smoothly announces that ‘you’re the only one that matters to me’. Avoiding the trap of literal and vulgar lyricism that so many R ‘n’ B artists seem to jump into, this is eyes closed bedroom music at its sophisticated and subtle best.
Corey takes progressive rock guitars and a rougher, edgier vocal to create the anthemic, reverbing choruses of ‘Crazy Glue’ and ‘Renegade’. Aggressive and purposeful, the metallic drums and heavy, charging riffs prove his versatility and accelerate him to the forefront of up and coming grown-up hip-pop.
The ‘Crazy Glue’ EP is out from 7th April and Corey will also be performing his first ever live UK show at Queen of Hoxton on the same day.
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