REVIEW: Taylor Jules — Waterfall (SINGLE)
Taylor Jules’ seemingly inexorable ascent into the higher echelons of pop stardom continues with the release of her new single “Waterfall”. It is our second sneak preview of the Los Angeles singer/songwriter’s next release, an EP due in fall 2025, and she’ll generate ample buzz given the quality of the material. “Waterfall” embraces the raw, open-hearted aesthetic foundational to Jules’ songwriting and explores a wide emotional range with direct, conversational language. She never panders, but Jules’ desire to connect with listeners makes “Waterfall” a great example of her gift for transforming that desire into musical art.
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I think it is an unimpeachable testimony to her talent that she satisfies herself and gives audiences what they clamor for. She sounds fiercely connected with the material from the start and even applying a smattering of post-production gimmickry to her voice doesn’t dilute its emotional heft. To put it simply, she sounds like she really means it. There’s no ambiguity or half-hearted vocals.
A bit of musical sleight of hand opens “Waterfall” with memorable effect. Jules begins the cut as a stylized stripped back pop track with an artsy edge before transforming around one minute in. I love the jolt that comes with her shifting from a low-key posture into wide-eyed bludgeoning. It stays resolutely musical, Melody shines through at key points during “Waterfall”, and Jules makes a great effort to shape her voice in its service.
Grammy award-winning producer Marc Swersky’s production has an intimate, close-quarters sound. It favors an even-handed balance between Jules’ voice and the supporting instrumentation. The march-like tempo set by the song’s percussion helps punctuate the wording of Jules’ lyrics; it doesn’t have a heavy sonic hand with the audience but helps emphasize important phrases. “Waterfall” orchestrates dynamics that are hard to forget. The patient wavering between the straightforward physicality of the percussion and softer interludes where Jules achieves a near-cascading effect over listeners is effective.
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The single is a complete song. I believe listeners will be hard-pressed to identify any slack points in the song where Jules’ ambition runs aground. It starts strong and evolves sensibly within a manageable length of time. She never bites off more than she can chew. “Waterfall” sounds like she began the recording process with a clear bead on what she wanted to achieve with this single, and realized her ambitions with seemingly casual, effortless skill.
The great ones always make it sound easy. It’s part of what draws us to listen, but there’s no doubt that Taylor Jules’ “Waterfall” is the result of a life well lived, hours if not days slaving over the lyrics and arrangement, striving to get every word and note just so. It’s an impressive outing for the Los Angeles-based talent, and I am sure one of many more such moments to come. I predict her pending EP release will go a long way towards solidifying her standing as one of the most pre-eminent and promising musical artists rising through the ranks. It’s a major songwriting statement that I won’t soon forget.
Colin Jordan
