Supple and smoothly applied to the blank canvas afforded by silence in the backdrop, the strings we initially make contact with in Jeffrey Li’s debut single “Anniversary” are a masterfully melodic element to say the least. A near-perfect complement to Li’s stunningly warm lead vocal, this textured component of a much grander harmony is far from the only reason I’d recommend giving “Anniversary” a listen this summer. In terms of mature songcraft and pop simplicity, this single is as close to utter brilliance as I’ve come to reviewing in the whole of 2020. Jeffrey Li is 15 years old – that’s right, he’s a teenager – but he’s raising the bar for an entire scene with his velvet-soft lead vocal in this homerun of a rookie release.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyLiMusic/
The serenade is quite delicate from the get-go here, but it isn’t without the sort of depth required to shape a poetry as rich as what we find in “Anniversary.” Li adds to the narrative not only through his tone but via his meticulously-staggered execution; from behind the mic, he’s utilizing both tempo and the mood of his delivery to make his words tangible and real to us. There isn’t a speck of reticence as he flows from one verse to the next, and although I would have recommended a slight modulation as he approaches the chorus – only to emphasize the sway of the percussion – his actual vocal performance is simply flawless. Anyone can practice a solid melody into existence, but few can do what Jeffrey Li is doing to reinforce emotionality in this track.
As the beat swells deeper in the song, I can definitely hear the new jack swing influence in this guy’s sound. There’s a certain decadence around the three-minute mark that definitely makes me think about retro grooves ala early 90’s R&B-pop crossovers, but it’s not as evident on the surface as it is in the aesthetical make-up of the track. No matter what people decide to call “Anniversary,” I think it’s pretty obvious how little interest Li has in fitting into a box created by commerciality or critics like myself. He’s got a versatile skillset that’s being put to good use in this song, and with a little more time and space to cultivate his style, he’s going to be unstoppable.
Wonderfully accessible and easily more mature in tone than most any of its major label-produced counterparts, Jeffrey Li’s debut single is an instant classic in my book. “Anniversary” flirts with some romantic subject matter but steers itself more towards introspection than it does predictably saccharine balladry, and considering this is coming from a sophomore in high school, I would say it’s one of the more significant releases of its kind to hit record store shelves this summer. Jeffrey Li is a force to be reckoned with from beginning to end here, and although he’s a new face to most of us – myself included – it’s more than evident that he’s got a strong future ahead of him in pop music.
Loretta Kim