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New York-based Sabrina Monique’s new single “It Was Always You” should go a long way toward establishing her in modern pop music. She’s already collected impressive laurels along the way. An American Idol appearance, features in American Songwriter and Wonderland magazine, and attracting attention from formidable producers such as New York’s Randy Merrill and Nashville’s Dr, Ford clearly marks her for greater stardom. However, “It Was Always You” speaks louder than any of those accolades. It shows astonishing maturity within its musical style and sparkles with a bold, undeniable personality.
The personality is fully on display during the song’s video. She’s the unquestionable center of the promotional clip and has an easy, assured relationship with the camera. Lush use of color complements Monique’s effortless ability to hold the viewer’s attention, and the way she shapes the video to fit the song’s shifts helps give the song an unity that it wouldn’t possess in lesser hands. The able support she receives from the cast doesn’t overshadow her contributions in the slightest and helps make for a more compelling viewing experience.
Dynamics are present in the video clip and song alike. Their understated use during the track, particularly rhythmically, stands out as one of the cut’s most dominant strengths. They are especially effective during the song’s transitions. The movement from the song’s verses into its chorus section is one of the brightest spots in the arrangement, and Monique rides it with seasoned veteran confidence beyond her years. Attentive listeners will hear how the music surrounding her inspires Monique to reach for and achieve greater heights.
It’s built around bass and percussion with a delightful effect. Monique’s vocal style, particularly during the verses, reinforces the song’s percussive bite without ever going overboard. That hard-hitting phrasing she brings to the performance has a doubling effect on the song’s drumming that has an irresistible physical pull for listeners.
She sinks her teeth into the lyrics and dispatches them with several emotions in play. It’s a testament to the song’s elasticity and her vocal talents that she explores a bevy of emotions over the course of its relatively brief duration. Her ability to dramatize the song’s narrative without succumbing to over-indulgence is a crucial reason why “It Was Always You” works. It’s also one of the factors that will keep you coming back for more.
It isn’t an one-and-done listening experience. There’s just enough nuance that you won’t catch everything with a single pass, and the infectious groove has a magnetic effect. You’ll want to engage with this track again and again. It has instant appeal for a vast swath of listeners, pop fans, R&B, funk, and even reggae aficionados may find something to latch onto hearing this number. “It Was Always You” doesn’t mince words, it doesn’t shortcut emotions, and provides listeners with a fully-rounded and immersive experience that will turn newcomers into instant fans. There’s more to come from Sabrina Monique, and “It Was Always You” is an excellent way to get started.
Jennifer Munoz
