Dripping in emotion, the debut EP from Future Classic‘s George Maple (aka Jess Higgs) is a brilliant body of work. She plunges to the depths of your heart with her raw lyrics, and with the help of labelmate Flume, the production is flawless. Her breathless, sultry, smoky voice pulls you in as it wisps around you like a cool breeze, and from the first note it’s no wonder she is pegged for big things still to come.
In the plethora of alternative R’n’B songstresses that have broken through to the mainstream after forerunners Solange, Jessie Ware, FKA Twigs, SZA and Kelela demanded the world’s attention, it takes something truly special to stand out. George Maple has done this, and then some. Her magnetic vocals, knack for soulful tracks, and emotional lyricism create a sound that is as powerful as it is heartfelt and personal.
Starting off with title track and second single, Vacant Space, we’re already allowed to peer into Higgs‘ soul. You can feel her frustration of a back-and-forth relationship, questioning and questioning her place in their life. The production creates a soundscape that is sparse (vacant, perhaps?), yet layered meticulously to create powerful ebb and flow parts as it builds. The vocal range demonstrated here stands as a testimony to what caught her so much attention initially, with Higgs‘ voice effortlessly soaring to powerful heights, then cutting right back to almost a whisper. You can feel her desperation as the track slips away.
Next up is first single Talk Talk, and the track responsible for her surge in popularity. Clocking up over 2 million listens since it’s release, the track speaks for itself! Continuing on with the obvious frustration found in Vacant Space, this track is slightly more R’n’B, with groovier production and rising synths. The stuttered beats in the chorus, the subtle complexity of the verses, and the rise and falls of the synths combined with Higgs‘ incredible set of pipes makes a sure-fire hit. The production is on trend, and you can hear the Flume influence here, yet it still holds something above the rest. Perhaps it’s the earnest nature of the lyrics and the way Higgs sings it? Whatever it is, it’s no wonder this was the first single chosen for the rising star!
Following tracks Began To Say and Gripp see Higgs collaborate with others; Slime on the former, and Kwes & Kilo Kush on the latter. Both tracks are just as rich as their predecessors, but have a different feel to them due to the collabs. Began To Say is stripped back, yet finishes on some intricate mixing and vocal parts. Higgs almost sounds Little Dragon-esque here, and the sassy nature of this forlorn love song is what makes it my favourite. It’s a track you’d hear in a late night bar; comforting and easy, but just enough in there to keep you on your toes.
Gripp is similar in it’s sassy nature, with Higgs‘ taking on a sultry tone against a background of harmonies and sparse beats. As she sings, “It’s all in your head / get a grip and take control” over and over again, you kind of feel like calling up whoever made her feel like this and give them a good talking to. Kilo Kush sounds at home here with her guest vocals; this should definitely not be the last time the pair work together, as they perfectly compliment each other’s sound.
Final track Call of the Wild is a surprising but welcome addition to the EP, and a lovely way to finish things off. The almost house beats pulse along as the moody, honeyed Higgs comes in. It’s a slowburner, and shows a versatility that might have been hidden prior to this. The production on this song is starkly different to the previous four tracks; smouldering and restrained, yet soars and falls as she says goodbye to her lover, and her listeners.
Raw, exposing, powerful and emotional, George Maple‘s Vacant Space is a formidable debut release from one of this year’s most exciting names. Higgs‘ tremendous vocal range, paired with the smoky, sensual sound of her voice and knack for intriguing production that open her up to a whole different demographic of fans is what makes her special. If this is anything to go by, we will all be hearing a lot of George Maple in the very near future!