Jannah Beth’s Product of a Dreamer was one of the most exciting debut EPs I heard last year, a dynamic collection of songs that blurred the boundaries of hip-hop, soul, R&B, and funk. I can’t wait to hear what the next phase of their musical journey has in store, but before I do I’m thrilled we can revisit those songs with the recent release of the remixed EP.
All too often a remixed EP can feel a little superfluous, but that’s certainly not the case here. I think of this EP as more of a companion piece that puts the spotlight back on the songs and helps you appreciate them in new ways. I found myself jumping back and forth between the remixes and the original takes, marvelling at the differences between them. I commonly complain about remixes focusing on danceability but stripping the heart out of songs, so I’m thrilled to see Jannah Beth and their team of talented producers have found a balance here. The songs sound fresh, but the beats never overshadow the thought-provoking lyrics.
“It all seems so fast; music is almost disposable and as soon as you’ve finished listening to one song you have an infinity more there, ready to capture your heart and attention. I wanted to savour my moment and show off the songs in endless form & possibility as well as appease my own (very diverse) musical appetite,” Jannah Beth said about this release. “I’m a huge believer in collaboration and I’m constantly inspired by my peers – releasing and creating a project within lockdowns and pandemics took away the ease of collaborating but these remixes paved a way for the project to break those boundaries to really sit in a collaborative space and feel ‘real’ to me and my community. Each artist who remixed a track has their own amazing project … they are all to be celebrated …don’t sleep”.
If like me you were ready to dive back into Product of a Dreamer or you’re yet to discover what it’s all about, check the remixes and the original EP out. It’s available as a limited-edition neon green vinyl via Jannah Beth’s Bandcamp page and digitally through your favourite streaming services.
Image used with permission from Good Intent; credit: She Is Aphrodite