Soul Dot, Akeem Jahat, & Marian Carmel : what are we?
Linking up with esteemed Singaporean hip-hop luminary Akeem Jahat and rising singer-songwriter Marian Carmel, local production team Soul Dot conjures a laid-back neo-soul jam on “what are we?” As its title suggests, the track tells the all-too-familiar story of divergent expectations as things start to get serious in a casual relationship.
The track's bedrock lies in Soul Dot’s tasteful production and instrumentation choices, which I greatly enjoyed. Opting for simplicity in their arrangements instead of movement-heavy bass lines or complex drum fills, it was refreshing to hear Soul Dot’s commitment to serving the song – avoiding the pitfalls of many up-and-coming producers. With just basic percussive elements and whole bass notes, they strip things back to key essentials, which elevated the featured artists’ vocal performances.
Of these, Carmel’s vocal stylings are the standout on “what are we?”, an impassioned performance that highlights the confusion and heartache of its lyrics (“With the time we spend alone / You can't tell me nothing's on your mind / It can't just be me that's imagining / It can't just be me baby”). However, while the track’s chorus does work as a simple refrain (“Tell me what are we?”), it does feel underwhelming in contrast to the track’s lush and downtempo instrumentation. The call-and-response section during the chorus, which features pitched up modulated vocals recalling Carmel’s hook, feels borderline cheesy and is something the song could’ve done without.
Meanwhile, Akeem Jahat’s verse flexes his knack for narrative lyricism, playing the role of a partner uncomfortable with committed relationships (“See girl I'm just so used to be being alone / But the thought of you girl got me reachin’ my phone”), while peppering some of his humorous charm in between (“Commitment, that shit is gon’ make me fat”). But despite strong lyrics and ideas, Jahat’s verse just isn’t particularly engaging, with its strung-out delivery lacking any of the rapper’s signature presence and energy (see: “$ua”). The rapper seems underutilised and out of his element on the track, sounding uncomfortable as he struggles to match its laid-back atmosphere.
Although featuring a misfire on its rapped verses, the track remains a commendable foray into R&B and neo-soul. With a relatable narrative of confusion and heartache brought about through tasteful production, and a rock solid performance from Marian Carmel, Soul Dot’s latest is a assured bop for fans of the genre.