“Waterfall” supplies us with a notable example of that talent. Her new single from a forthcoming EP release bursts from the speakers with engaging physicality. Grammy-winning producer Marc Swersky intuitively grasps how to frame Jules’ strengths for maximum effect. He pushes her personable vocals to the forefront without ever upsetting the overall presentation and buttresses the instrumental accompaniment with needed sonic oomph. However, songwriting fundamentals are important to Jules’ success, and “Waterfall” reflects this. It pays studious attention to familiar elements and invokes them with impressive skill.
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“Waterfall” has an irresistible flow that makes sense. It begins life as a spartan and smoky piece even more centered on her voice, exaggerated by production effects, but seamlessly evolves into a fuller, tactile arrangement after the song’s first minute. She isn’t done there. The arrangement for “Waterfall” continues twisting new textures into being before returning to the song’s primary line of attack. You never get the feeling or sense that Jules is uneasily melding disparate sections into an unsuccessful whole. On the contrary. Instead, “Waterfall” resolves itself in a predictable, albeit stylish and skillful, fashion that keeps you listening.
Many listeners, particularly those encountering Jules for the first time, will be surprised by the song’s bluesy power. There’s nothing purist about it, but Jules self-consciously summons the sturm and drang of blues, the genre’s heightened emotion, to reinforce her songwriting endeavor. It’s an ideal marriage. Her voice underscores the compatibility. It’s a near-note-perfect union between the singer and the arrangement that ingratiates itself with the audience from the beginning.
Her lyrics are a major part of the appeal. Jules has an unique talent for threading direct lyrics and well-chosen images into a cohesive statement. It stands on its own divorced from the music. However, we should not confuse her writing with poetry intended for the page, and it’s obvious that she pens the words for “Waterfall” with her voice in mind. Her vocal phrasing elevates them several notches. They never risk pretentiousness.
Nothing about this song comes off as prefabricated or plotted out. It has a surprisingly spontaneous feel, like a first take on the track, and benefits from a deceptively live sound. “Waterfall” doesn’t waste time; it engages listeners from the outset. The single’s running time of a little over three and a half minutes comes across as a perfect duration for Jules to fully develop its musical and lyrical ideas.
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She has a slender discography at this point, but “Waterfall” is the work of a talented and cagey veteran. It is tantalizing to consider how much further she can go. It sounds like there’s nothing she can’t do, and the forthcoming EP release will undoubtedly reveal more about her capabilities. It’s likely to be one of 2025’s banner releases and propel her career into an entirely new orbit. Longtime music devotees will want to follow her through the voyage to come.
Chadwick Easton