Wade In The Water by Yona Marie

0
769

With acidic tendencies, Yona Marie’s latest release, a cover of ‘Wade In The Water’, is an easy-going and fluid take on a widely-covered piece of traditional gospel done right, and by capable hands.

Based in Washington DC, Yona Marie is an artist whose soul, RnB, and Blues background qualify her with ease to have her own spin on this spiritual classic, and this takes this chance to give a version that truly stands out. Marie’s ‘Wade In The Water’ is true to its roots in being strongly vocal-centered. Indeed, the arrangement that Yona Marie goes for is one composed of a pair of acidic synths, one that plays the jazzy chord voicings, another for a lower, bassy part, a drum machine-based beat that utilizes claps for snare hits, and a caramel-smooth vocal layering job that features counterpoint, snaking melodies, and impeccable performances.

A spiritual piece in its core, Yona Marie’s treatment successfully transforms this gospel standard into something fresh, exciting, and truly unexpected. Restrained, mature, and artful, this refreshing blend of acid jazz with gospel might not be what we wanted, but it is exactly what we needed, and Yona Marie was here to deliver.