It’s easy to jump on the music snob band wagon and brand the Brit school as a conveyor belt of polished pop packages. But you only have to look at its substantial list of successful graduates – from global superstars Jessie J and Adele to newcomers Kate Tempest and King Krule – to realise that it is way more than that.
Jody Brock is the latest in a long line of exports from the state funded performing art schools and the fact is, these faces were all unbelievably talented musicians long before they wandered its Croydon corridors. But a banging voice and a pretty face just ain’t enough anymore. The Brit School produces talented and credible artists – not just singers – time and time again and this South Londoner really is no exception.
Jody grew up to a soundtrack of the likes of Etta James, Nina Simone and James Brown, courtesy of his musician father and taking influence from contemporaries including, Jacob Banks and The Black Keys, you could say Jody has soul running through his *eh-hem* soul. Written and recorded in LA with Grammy award winning producer, Igloo, of Ludacris fame, the singer songwriter’s debut EP Phoenix showcases his unique take on the genre and proves that he could be one to watch.
If you’re going to say something about a banana, it’s going to be that it’s yellow. It might be blimmin’ obvious, but that doesn’t make it any less true. So with jazzy, brassy infusions and the ‘look at me’ presence of a parade making its way down Main Street, EP opener, ‘User’ inevitably inspires comparisons to fellow Brit School alumni Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back to Black’, comparisons so obvious that they just can’t go unsaid. Opening with dry, reverbing guitar resonating across an otherwise desolate backdrop, the track is like a wild west shoot out, all swinging doors and tumbleweed and Jody’s husky tones telling someone, ‘I’m a user, you’re the drug’.
Rusty, rugged, bluesy riffs make Stormy Weather rougher than classic soul and Jody’s vocal has more weight than your average smooth, soulful crooner too. I’m not normally one for ‘lovechild’ references – but if Kings of Leon, Seasick Steve and Vince Kidd (remember him, off of The Voice?) were put in a tumble dryer, this is what it would sound like.
Written about his relationship with his dad, Another Dance further explores Jody’s jazz influences. The track was co-written by Heidi Rojas, who has written for Little Mix and Cheryl in the past, but drops the sort of declarative brass and percussion Mark Ronson became famous for – I just can’t get away from these Amy references. Jody’s gymnastic ability is impressive, especially for a male vocal and the abrasive edge makes for an intriguing and modern interpretation of the soul we’re used to hearing.
Title track Phoenix proves Jody can step away from the dark and brooding. The most upbeat track of the record, Phoenix conjures the gospel style of Hosier and what sounds like – and I really hope it is – a xylophone after the chorus adds a quirky pop moment.
With his distinctive brand of rock-soul and at times irresistible vocals, we predict big things from this one, and with plans for an album in the pipeline, we really hope we’re right.