“Sweetest of Melody” by Rina Chanel

Love is in the air and what better avenue to glide through the robust, Rubenesque clouds than with Virginia’s new song siren, Rina Chanel. Her new track, “Sweetest of Melody” is caked high with dazzling vocals, a companion vocalist and musical vibes that will have you dancing into the evening hours. Where the rush of emotions and exhilaration might be better fitted for a quicker dance tune or modern pop song, Chanel crafts her sound to be a thrilling deluge of smooth saxophone vibes that melt into the piano keys and drum kit. “Sweetest of Melody” is a delight. 

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/rinachanelmusic/?hl=en

Chanel has the gift of a freeing voice. She makes you feel like there are possibilities and that the world does have goodness. “Sweetest Of Melody” is about her relationship and how she truly makes music with her boyfriend (or husband). The unidentified male voice feels the same and his vocal parts slip into the scene smoothly, too. Chanel has an awe factor. When she sings it’s like an enlightenment – the world just feels and looks clearer.

I’m reminded a bit of Vanessa Williams and Janet Jackson when I hear her voice. She seems to have a special range and the octaves that are made for pop/jazz songs. She’s charming and wonderfully engaging. It’s a very romantic, but tasteful tune. Compared to so many artists trying to shock and awe, Chanel plays it close to the heart and is just as real as they come. I really felt like I was listening to an artist that had studied her craft her entire life, and worked at giving the best performance she could. She sounds so natural!

The music in “Sweetest of Melody” is tight with swooning rhythms and cautious piano beads. The piano keys trickle along a nice path – leaving just the right amount of space and fill for the music to not feel constrained. There are definitive moments where the flow is nearly improvised. That’s the mark, they say, of a great jazz tune. The timing and the ability to create a superfluous sound. It’s not a flowery or 70s cliché sound – this is the sound that captures the imagination. It’s an instant gravitational pull back towards Chanel’s lovely voice. Lost in the instrumentation – especially the saxophone is easy to do, but I kept getting drawn back to the lyrics and chorus. I wanted to sit and marinate for a while in those rhythms, meander about in the prestige. I felt inspired and happy. This song exudes love.

APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/us/album/sweetest-of-melody-feat-senghor-robinson/1588654754?i=1588654755

Chanel, who hails from Virginia Beach, projects contentment in her voice. She has a class and an air to her that feels very friendly. “Sweetest of Melody” is from her forthcoming EP, due in 2022. While we have to wait until the coming months for this inspiring (and provocative) singer’s additional songs, “Sweetest of Melody” is the perfect treat. Full of emotion, excellent talents and a music bed that holds true to its jazz and R&B roots, Chanel’s work deserves a bravo. “Sweetest of Melody” is exceptional – as is Rina Chanel.

Timothy Ball