In My Concert Bag - Track 10: Padon Suber
DJ Marq and I went to Houston to support our dear friend Padon Suber at Sofar Houston. Check out Marq’s latest podcast of our adventure.
You can also read my Food + Travel Review of the trip HERE.
SONG REVIEW: Padon Suber - "Thursday"
By: Jessica Klausing
As featured on the On the Marq Radio Show with DJ Marq - Episode: The Antidote: Interview w/ Singer Padon Suber
R&B artist Padon Suber releases his new single “Thursday” from the upcoming album, Love Daze. This soulful track is a celebration of love that is bursting with warm tones and blissful rhythmic grooves that will have you falling in love with Suber’s sultry smooth voice.
At the start we’re treated to heavenly harmonies telling us that “It’s Thursday.” Suber coos on counting down the days until he can finally see his love with, “I can’t wait to see your face. Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday. I can’t wait til this Thursday. I hope you’re on your way.”
When asked about his new song, Suber recalls, “I wrote this song as an ode to one of my band member’s relationship with his girlfriend. Before they moved in together they shared a long distance relationship, he was in Houston and she was in Louisiana. They had a system where she would come stay with him at least once a month for a full week starting on a Thursday. I was so moved by the consistency of his response toward those symbolic Thursdays that I wanted to capture that moment in a song. I think everyone can relate to that feeling of bliss when thinking about seeing the person who makes them smile.”
Filled with the soft strum of an acoustic guitar, gentle percussion, a spirited organ, and a powerful falsetto, this song is a beautiful addition to any romantic playlist or just to share with that special someone.
SONG REVIEW: Desmond Parson - "I Pledge"
By Jessica Klausing
As featured on the On The Marq Radio Show with DJ Marq - Episode: Soul glo
Encased in lush neo soul, “I Pledge” is an alluring and emotive newly released single from Desmond Parson. Portraying a message of being in love and a “pledge of allegiance” declaration from new couples and longtime couples alike, this track is the perfect choice for weddings and anniversaries. Parson coos sweetly over a mellow melody while trickling piano keys, warm horns and a heavenly choir of background harmonies bring out the retro R&B aspect into this delightful musical soundscape.
Desmond Parson is one artist not to sleep on. You can hear the Stevie Wonder influences in his music, and I for one cannot wait to see what else he brings to the soul table.
SONG REVIEW: Naja - "Closer"
By Jessica Klausing
As featured on the On The Marq Radio Show with DJ Marq - Episode: Soul glo
Heartfelt confessions and sonic backdrops take center stage on Minneapolis based artist Naja’s latest song, “Closer.” Jump starting into the song, Naja pours his heart out to the listener about not “needing no fancy things,” which builds the emotion with a concise drum beat before cresting into a layered echo of background vocals.
According to Naja, “this song is inspired from trying to reject materialism and ego, and trying to pursue spirituality. I’m a recovering drug addict, and although I have been sober for over a decade, I find that drugs are a just symptom of my soul sickness. I’ve always tried to use external things to fix the way I feel internally.”
The profound highlight of the song comes with the piano melody cascading down like gentle raindrops to cleanse and purify the soul. As Naja coos his soulful harmonies delicately, a warm saxophone injects a funky jazz element into this already rich musical soundscape. As the song winds down, Naja leaves us with the overall message that real happiness doesn’t come from outside things, and yes, life is not always great, sometimes it’s full of fear, and we have to walk through it, but we don’t have to do it alone.