Overall Impression: Canadian outfit Hip Culture serve up a slice of sunny, melody-driven pop/rock with their release of “Emerald Eyes.” A stunning female vocal conveys a wistful tale of longing set to a tight, upbeat folk rock arrangement highlighted by some spectacular lead guitar work that perfectly compliments the incredibly striking melody. A top-notch rhythm section ardently pushes this tune along, with warm bass guitar and crisp, punchy drums providing a rock steady foundation. Polished production and expert musicianship make Hip Culture’s “Emerald Eyes” an easy recommendation for any pop/rock enthusiasts.
Strongest Point(s): Outstanding production, incredible mix. Great tonal balance. Wonderful energy. Memorable melodies. Band sounds amazing, super tight. Fantastic guitar tones, especially on the bass and the lead. Remarkable vocal performance, gorgeous timbre, decent range. Excellent vocal production and backing vox arranging as well. Nice song structure, good rhythmic contrast between the verse and chorus, and the bridge provides even more variation. The lyrics do well to give a lovely sense of yearning and nostalgia. Overall, it’s a terrific song and a tremendous track. Exceptional job by everyone involved!
About The Reviewer: Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre, from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers