The North and Wells Band – Issa Vibe (2021)
Are you looking for a song that is all about the vibes and a cool blend of soul, funk and rock? Well, the aptly titled ‘Issa Vibe’ by The North and Wells Band might just be the song you should be looking at. Defying genres, the band has you rocking out to their sound and getting down to their unique mixture of tones.
This blend of melodic elements comes from 12:12 (vocals), Jacob Stopar (guitar, bass), Sam Roth (drums) and John Love (keys). The band formed from the depths of The Second City in Chicago where they all worked as night staff employees. With youthful energy and vibes that will not stop, they make music they like while moving away from modern muscle definitions.
‘Issa Vibe’ pulls you in with a combination of soaring tones and hazy funk. There is a slightly retro feeling to the melody that makes you think about the heyday of funk and disco. The blending of melodic elements is masterful as they all converge to form a river of sound that is part funk and part disco with an underlying foundation of rock-pop. The smooth arrangement of the melody has you moving to the beats before you are thrown into a more contemporary movement that matches the change in the vocals.
From the first moment the vocals enter, you are hit with a wave of nostalgia. The vocal performance has you thinking of roller rinks and old-school vibes. The vocals call out against the melody while the falsettos that come and go are amazing. The harmonising is also a thing of beauty that adds a wash of pastel colours to the single. When the melody hits the contemporary movement, you are presented with a rap interlude. The change in flow is great and the transitions are utterly amazing.
The North and Wells Band blend melodic elements for a unique sound that has you riding their groove in ‘Issa Vibe’. The track brings some of the best parts of rock-pop, funk, soul and disco together for an engaging listening experience. The vocals add an extra layer to the music that makes you want to spin around and move to the sound.
Find out more about The North and Wells Band on their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
