Jessie Ware is the female equivalent to Sam Smith and TOKiMONSTA – Jennifer Lee – is the female equivalent to Flying Lotus.
This special remix of Jessie Ware’s “Keep On Lying” by TOKiMONSTA was sponsored by Red Bull Music Academy and recorded at the Copenhagen, Denmark location.
Red Bull Music Academy is unique for sponsoring, and also responsible for, the electronic scene specifically with the UK sound.
Jessie Ware and TOKiMONSTA worked together through this sponsorship to change Jessie Ware’s weaker track off her sophomore album Tough Love, “Keep On Lying,” into something different.
With TOKiMONSTA’s latest album Desiderium showing TOKiMONSTA’s sonic palette, this was an easy task.
In the beginning you are immediately aware you are into something new. Gone are the light “choo choo” style synths from the “cute” original version, and instead are arpeggiated blipps and sharp snares compounded with hip-hop styled drums.
When Jessie Ware’s vocals come in after the 10 second intro, the voice floats effortlessly over warm ambient synths layered on top of the structure provided by TOKiMONSTA.
TOKiMONSTA pitches Jessie’s vocals, and on the lead up to the chorus TOKiMONSTA at 0:36 she rings the bell – buckle up.
The juke style beat races across the lead up to the chorus.
Just when you think the footwork pace would explode, TOKiMONSTA pulls back to highlight the true star of the track – Jessie Ware’s powerhouse, soulful, vocals. As with TOKiMONSTA’s latest album, the horns added in this track add an extra layer sonically to help envelope the track. With as many layers and commotion added, the break down at 2:08 is perfectly timed to help the pacing of the track to slow down and pause on the lyrics.
Overall, TOKiMONSTA drastically elevates the original version of “Keep On Lying.”
