SZA On Song ...

We're not really sure how we stumbled across SZA, but distinctly remember her being likened to Solange ... someone whom in 2012, we thought the absolute world of (we still do by the way, we're just awaiting something new). Julia, her latest single, does indeed have that Solange-esque tinge to it, but an equally as distinctive presence that actually, makes it very different, but massively pleasant.
The tags towards the bottom of the Soundcloud page, are simply "Alternative", "Indie", and "80s" ... and if we were pushed to put three words to this one, we think that's exactly what we'd have gone for. You'll notice very quickly that this could go one of two ways, and fortunately, the way in which we suspect that you'll want this to go, is exactly the direction taken.
There's an essence of R'n'B at the very beginning, and that makes your mind think twice, but when that unstoppable 80s beat hits the deck, and the rest becomes a fantasia of colourful synths, you'll question why you ever thought that anything else could have come about.
From then on, SZA's vocal is sweet, not pressing, and an absolute joy to behold in your ears. The song, which suggests that it lasts over 5 minutes, actually on lasts 3 and a half, with some sort of a bonus track afterwards, but in that 3 minutes, you'll get more than enough of a feel for the sort of thing SZA is going for.
The likeness to Solange is particularly easy, because they both have managed to make the absolute most out of their vocals, despite them being relatively low-key ... but we reckon the name Lulu James is also one which you could use, simply for the backing which gets this song going. There's something Dancey about it, and that 80s theme runs through, like it does with Lulu too. All we can tell you, really, is that we think this is the premise for some huge, huge waves in the industry and, the sooner we all latch on to starlets like SZA, only the better the industry can become.
Paul.