Jaief & Asong: “Don’t Need To” – an understated showcase of minimalistic rap and pop

The two friends Jaief & Asong live in separate cities in the south of Germany but plan and execute their musical projects with producer KasAkustix in Berlin. In 2014, with a baggage of musical tastes that stretch across genres like Hip-hop, Country, Jazz, Soul, Rock, Pop, Electronic, and Afro-pop, among others, Jaief & Asong formed a musical duo that released its debut project, “EARWORMS”, in the fall of that same year. The recording amassed over 1 million streams; over 200,000 downloads and several sync licenses, were totaled exclusively on the Jamendo music platform. 2017 sees the duo working on new music and continuing their momentum with the release of their latest single “Don’t Need To”.

It’s hard to stand out in a world where so many artists sound the same. Turn on your radio, or find a popular streaming playlist, and you’ll hear plenty of artists that all sound the same. Why stand out when you can fit in and still make money? For many this has become the norm.

There are exceptions to the rule; Jaief & Asong is one of these. While their production and style are dissimilar to many artists out now, their voices also cut through and sounds different to their counterparts. Not to mention their lyrical content on “Don’t Need To”, which is cleverly focused and totally clean – another rarity in the genre!

The production and vibe of this project are solid. It’s a record you can throw on while you’re getting ready for a night out…or even returning from a night out. The chilled out piano and mid-tempo hand-clapping rhythm, is as much uplifting as it is relaxing. The bittersweet lyrics which looks at a love story that’s been terminated, is as melancholic and nostalgic in the same measure that it is heartening and soothing.

The song is a simple and delightfully restrained ballad of love lost. Devoid of the treacly sentimentality, cloying vocals and tired platitudes we’ve come to expect of such songs, “Don’t Need To” excels by being plain and direct.

Uncluttered by the theatrics and commotion of overwrought lyrics, extravagant singing and dramatic beats, the track is an understated showcase of minimalistic rap and pop – a perfect illustration of Jaief & Asong’s appeal as artists.

The production coincides with the vibe of the lyrical content, providing the appropriate atmosphere on the record. Altogether, it creates a complete sonic package. “Don’t Need To” adds to a growing body of work that reflects artists in motion.

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