Justine Blue's "True": A Soulful Exploration of Emotion and Musical Fusion

Justine Blue – True 

Self-Produced, 2022

https://justineblue.com

13 Tracks; 52 minutes

French singer Justine Blue invites listeners into a world of soulful expression and musical fusion with her self-produced album, "True." Released in 2022 through crowd-funding, this 13-track offering showcases Blue's unique voice, heavily influenced by blues and jazz standards. With a subdued and emotionally charged delivery, Blue places a premium on conveying feelings rather than relying on powerful vocal acrobatics.

"True" unfolds as an excellent demonstration of Blue's distinctive talent, where she not only takes the lead on vocals but also contributes with ukulele and keyboards. Collaborating with exceptional musicians, including Toussaint Guerre on keyboards and saxophone and Enzo Taguet on guitar, Blue curates an album featuring 11 original or co-written songs, along with a reinterpretation of Johnny Otis' "Willie & the Hand Jive" and a heartfelt rendition of the Neville Brothers' "Yellow Moon."

The album's opening tracks set the stage, allowing the listener to immerse themselves in the haunting beauty of Blue's voice accompanied by restrained keyboards. Throughout the musical journey, Blue maintains a focus on her exquisite tone and controlled expression, occasionally punctuated by tasteful solos, such as the soulful saxophone interludes on "It Makes Me Feel Alright" and "Yellow Moon," as well as the funky guitar solo on "Rock Me Baby."

As a songwriter, Blue excels in capturing various themes, from introspective reflections on relationships to poignant observations on societal issues. In the track addressing homelessness, she paints a vivid picture: "Walking down the street, all the poor people laying down on the ground. Early in the morning, they are still awake while the city’s asleep... and I know it should be easy to feel the weight of a changing world." The accompanying video for this song adds depth to the narrative with brief footage of homelessness in France.

While some may argue that a stronger jazz influence permeates many songs, potentially challenging traditional blues purists, Blue's adept songwriting and vocal prowess make "True" a compelling and enjoyable album. The occasional emergence of Blue's French accent on certain words adds a charming uniqueness to her delivery, contributing to the overall allure of the record.

In "True," Justine Blue establishes herself as a promising newcomer, offering a solid collection that resonates with outstanding vocal ability. Fans of emotive storytelling and musical exploration will undoubtedly look forward to witnessing Blue's artistic evolution in future works.