Violeta Bozanic has been called Australian music’s best-kept secret after winning the 2018 junior vocalist award at the World Championships of Performing Arts held in the US. But after listening to this new track Jealous from the young Sydneysider one soon realises Violeta might be the world’s best kept-secret.
After her amazing performance at the world championships, Violeta was spotted by US mega-producer Jeffrey Weber and promptly began recording at United Recording in Hollywood, one of the most prestigious studios in the world. As well as getting the opportunity to record with a bunch of seasoned LA musicians, Violeta began collaborating with some hotshot writers too including Dapo Torimiro (John Legend, Stevie Wonder, and Justin Bieber) and Troy Laureta (Ariana Grande, David Foster and JJ Lin).
With some incredible material no doubt forthcoming, Jealous is the perfect introductory song, an RnB flavoured pop tune with a direct and relatable lyric, a smooth and sophisticated production and an exquisitely refined soulful vocal performance that belies Violeta’s age. The song begins with a mood-setting acoustic guitar part that soon segues straight into the drum groove and Violet’s commanding voice. The melody in the verses allows for Violeta’s low range to dazzle, and once the pre-chorus arrives more of Violeta’s range illuminates, bringing the song to the peak, the chorus, where her vocal prowess is undeniable.
The production is lean yet allows not only Violeta’s range to shine but for the instrumentation to create some satisfying textures and superb foundational nuances. Violeta’s performance is heartfelt, eschewing grandiose articulations for more subdued but no less effective expressions. In fact, the song becomes more powerful as a result, with Violeta’s energy and control effortlessly on show and measured to the point of remarkable maturity. Jealous will no doubt prove to be the song that will usher in a new star onto the Australian music landscape, and of course, onto the global stage also.
