Junior Natural ADD

Review

Review: Junior Natural - Everlasting EP

12/05/2013

Time and again, we are impressed by prodigies. Krishna must have been one of them (even though his authenticity might be disputed), Mozart definitely was one, and in our times, a search entry in YouTube provides around 700.000 results.

In most cases, a special talent, pushy parents and multimedial attention are the preconditions for those kids to be heard and seen. All three are met by Swedens own wunderkind that goes by the name of Junior Natural, and although he must be around 18 by now (and thus cannot really be counted as a kid anymore), he can look back on an impressive CV so far.

Conquering the stage by the age of 10 (first as a drummer, then as singer/ rapper/ MC), he made good use of the contacts and musical expertise his father, Daddy Natural, provided. Thus, an stage appearances in Paris and at the Uppsala Reggae Festival with Shaggy and Sean Paul belong to his references as well as several singles and videos.

With Everlasting, Junior Natural finally presents his first EP – mixed and mastered by himself in King Salomon Studio. The 7-track album (artwork by Yamadori) is a solid introduction to both his singing and playing skills, completed in some tracks by his Dad (pick guitar) and Kaj Szyszkiewicz (rhythm guitar), both members of his backing band Solomon Allstars.

The EP starts off – as is proper for a Reggae Album – with a drum roll and a heavy bass, on which poet Mr. Noon speaks some introductory words. The title track Everlasting, which has been out on video for almost a year now, speaks up against the Babylon system and for Jah. Featuring Lancy Ranking, the lyrics of the next song don't stray much from aforementioned theme, telling us that we should Hold Up our meditation "because this is our salvation".

Picking up speed in Sweet, Junior is singing about the sweetness of life - a subject to which the corresponding video (depicting a speedy nocturnal ride through some big city) doesn't quite seem to match. In Like This, he is returning to the fat Reggae beats this album should really be praised for, once again critically reflecting on the Western lifestyle. I Remember You, an acoustic piece dedicated to a mysterious "you" that could either be a lover, a parent or the Almighty once more, and The People, a conscious reflection on unity and the forces which try to prevent it, close the circle.

No doubt these tunes represent a mature vocal performance, accompanied by opulent Roots Reggae Music. A little bit more originality would have done no harm, though. An advocate for linguistic diversity, I'd love to hear Swedish lyrics, for instance…

However, given the young age of this exceptional artist, the professional quality of this production is absolutely impressing. Hopefully we are bound to hear more of Junior Natural in the very near future!