Jody Glenham transports us to a crowded dance floor, covered in sweat, beaming with smiles. It’s probably the 80’s or the glittering 90’s. We don’t care to know for sure though, because it’s just so fun to be there.
It’s obvious this dream pop artist keeps her inspirations in her back pocket with the newest track “Talking Out Loud”. The minute I press play, I’m reminded of so many artists I love. From the swooning sounds of Sharon Van Etten to the hard edge vocals of Stevie Nicks, Jody Glenham has clearly found herself swooped up into a sea of notable genre spearheaders.
This Canada-based frontwoman has made it clear this sound is just one of many she has to offer. Whether it’s taking it solo or with her backing band, The Dreamers, Jody is pushing out constant surprises for her listeners, leaving no lull whilst browsing her albums.
The 2009 release, Focus Pull, takes me through an entirely different demonstration of her writing process. I experience nothing less than an intuitive, internal dialogue through her lyricism when I listen to this album. Coated with a heaviness circling the tracks, showcasing ballad-like progressions and full, crashing tones.
A valued element of musicianship is knowing it’s okay if your music does not all belong in the same box, or even on the same playlist. I’m thrilled to stumble across an artist who embraces this fact wholeheartedly. That being said, “Talking Out Loud” has officially succeeded in starting a dance party in my living room.
“You’ve got me talking out loud about past depression. Dropping the guard on my mind’s obsession.”
Ideally, in the production process a song truly comes alive. Every guitar tone and various other builds and beats, become the building blocks to a pinnacle sound. I simply adore the juxtaposition of this track’s composition with Jody’s lyrics just painted in embers, burning with raw emotion.
“Talking Out Loud” is a track you can take anything from. You can feel hopeful, slightly anxious, questioning, and the best part? You don’t have to know why you feel anything, you just do.
“Murder in the summertime. The sun don’t set when the world’s on fire.”
Exploding drums and enchanting synth chords steer this song strongly throughout, constantly building with no wasted space and no neglected opportunity. Truly, a catchy lead guitar can be the most notable feature of a song and in this case, I can’t stop humming it.
We need more artists like Jody pushing the envelope, releasing music because they feel it best represents them. Even if that means she has to explain it over and over until someone understands this is who she is.
Don’t forget to throw on “Talking Out Loud” before you take your next evening drive through the mountains, or downtown through the city. It’s absolutely what your playlist might be missing.
