French one-man band, FKJ, formally known as French Kiwi Juice, is the definition of multi-talented. The self-made talent gathered widespread success with the release of his self-titled project French Kiwi Juice (via Roche Musique) in 2017, his star power continued to grow with EPs Ylang Ylang and Just Piano. On his new album V I N C E N T (via Mom + Pop), FKJ challenges himself to embark on an unrestrained route across the project.
This album starts with “Way Out,” which, according to FKJ himself, is “an invitation to leave my busy mind & yours too who are listening,” as he wrote on Twitter. The image he paints is brought to life with a gradual light piano melody layered behind the creak of a door opening and subtle footsteps steadily building up speed. This hopeful energy represents FKJ creeping in and out of his mind, overwhelmed by adult responsibilities and into youthful freedom. In the background, FKJ’s vocals murmur “way out” with accompanying orchestral strings that effortlessly slide from note to note. This track is evidence of FKJ‘s love for dramatism, cinema, and the energy it creates for the viewing audience.
Following “Way Out” is “Greener,” which features multiple Grammy-award winner, Carlos Santana. A clunky percussion from a beat machine starts off this track, followed by the Rock Hall of Fame musician’s iconic guitar riff. FKJ’s tender voice springs into action comparable to a seductive James Blake. With FKJ’s captivating singing, Santana’s impeccable guitar work, and the rest of the production generates the energy of a live performance. Each musician gets time in the limelight and even at different points of the production, each weaving in and out of the shadows to the forefront then vice versa. Although many songs do not stick out lyrically, the verses from FKJ on this song are truly entertaining. One stand-out line on the track is, “the gift that everybody wants (greener, greener) / sorry, I must say you’re wrong / love of the unknown / you gonna get it then look somewhere else / and you’ll come back alone.” The phrase “grass is always greener” focuses on this track. In the last verse, this theme is driven home, where FKJ mentions how his wandering eyes will lead him to be alone.
While most of the tracks on the project are solely produced and written by FKJ, he does take time to collaborate with others. Some of these collaborations on the album include “Can’t Stop,” which features Little Dragon, and “A Moment Of Mystery,” featuring Toro Y Moi. On “A Moment of Mystery,” Toro’s distinctive synths and echo effects blend well with FKJ trap jazz style. The lyrics are short but sweet with the eye-catching line, “I love the drama / I love the drama / our conversations never need completion / I speak in tongues and I roll my eyes.” When discussing the process behind “A Moment Of Mystery,” Toro y Moi described how the pair came up with the lyrics. “I ended up writing about the moments of desire and the tension we feel when we’re away from loved ones. I want the listener to feel as if things are open-ended with the person on the other side,” said Toro.
“Brass Necklace” features his frequent collaborator (“Ylang Ylang” and “Vibin Out”) and partner, (((o))). “Brass Necklace” is arguably the highlight of the project. (((o)))’s sugary voice and the layered production from FKJ makes for a memorable auditory experience as the sang lyrics, “angels adore us with kisses / like they all wanna be witness,” your ears reach a state of euphoria as her rich vocals flow over psychedelic pulse. Though the production is heavily layered, FKJ does not allow the track to sound overcrowded or muddied.
Skipping across a few tracks, we finally reach V I N C E N T’s coup de grâce in “Stay a Child” gently chimes from a vibraphone ring in your ear. Soaring strange synths make an appearance across the duration of the track. Excluding FKJ’s voice, which is drowned out by the production, all these elements leave a wistful emotion. The last words you hear before a dulcet roar of instrumentation is “I’ll stay a child / live right now / please / make me small / like before / I / wanna play / wanna run free.”
In short, V I N C E N T is full of marvelous production and brilliant mixing that sets it apart from any other project this year. Leaving France for the Philippines has truly influenced FKJ’s sound for the better as he takes his brand of meditative sounds to new heights. On the other hand, lyrically, this album is not amazing. However, that was never a focus of FKJ, and even when the lyrics appear, they merely play a supporting role. In a statement released by his label Mom + Pop, FKJ expanded on the creative process behind the album, “this was a challenging record,” he said. “I’m a perfectionist and it’s hard to shake that off. But once I did, and I let the music take over, I felt totally free,” he later added. There are not many artists who can create something as colorful and enjoyable as V I N C E N T.
V I N C E N T is available across music streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal, or for purchase on Bandcamp.
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Want more of FKJ? Connect with him on platforms including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and on his website frenchkiwijuice.com.
