Well now, Auckland pop singer Bex returns with a new direction combining some surprising genres into a blend that certainly retains the entertainment factor she’s been synonymous with to date. While the new track Clearly is not out until 4th October, allow me to provide some mild spoilers…

We have ourselves a great, almost dream-poppy opening with some vibrato-laden guitar phrasing beneath Bex‘s distinct vocal. An absolute soprano, the lady delivers a performance that put me in mind of those indie dreamsters Sixpence None The Richer, but with a cheeky, waiflike Lily Allen tilt to it. As the song segues into the first chorus we get an intro to the skiffly, bossanova rhythm section that amplifies the mix of jazzy guitars and classic old keys used to underscore the track. Very neatly composed and orchestrated.

The melody is nicely poppy but without being overly sugary, putting me in mind of the forthright elements legendary Polish jazz singer Basia would bring to such an endeavour. I’ll stop with the name-dropping now though, because this isn’t a copycat or homage release, this is a clever songwriter on her game, cementing some unexpected paths into a single, cohesive direction.

I hope Bex will be dropping a vid for the single to go with the launch because, as well as the Spotify audio – which is of course available from that date – this deserves a YouTube avenue too. There’s a lot she can do with storyboarding this one. Speaking of stories, I always prefer to paste the words of the writer, with regard to what the lyrics are about, as it is their story, so here in Bex‘s own words we have it: “It’s an affirmation, a mantra to remind listeners — especially young people navigating life’s twists and turns — to stay true to themselves. Bex describes the song as a letter of advice to her younger self, who once struggled with isolation and self-acceptance.”

The melody, again. I do find myself drawn to it in its jazzy way. Uncompromising yet sweet in its own style – by which I mean subtly powerful. Yeah, I think Bex is definitely onto something going down the route she’s going down. It’ll appeal to you if you’re a fan of light jazz, indie, dream-pop, and something that brings a touch of sunshine. I certainly see radio picking this up on appropriate rotation, and it deserves to get the support.

Very strong rebrand from Bex here. I do think you should check it out, whether you’re already a fan or just discovering her. You’ll be glad you made the effort. Big hit.