Amber Mark
“Different Places (with John the Blind)”
Big Family Music / Interscope Records
Leave it all on the table, and let someone else be the star. Or both!
That’s the goal with “Different Places,” where Amber Mark knows she’s a star waiting in the wings but lets John the Blind ditch the just-a-producer vibe (a superstar producer!) achieve something bigger, like a star-studded turn as the opening vocalist on this track.
The song been stuck in my head for days.
“Sometimes, I feel like I have zero clue / what’s going on in your head / what’s going on with your moves”
There’s not much to it. A clap with an echo. A subtle drum throughout. A beefy synth that moves everything forward, and will be stuck in your head for days. That’s not to reduce the quality of production here. It’s lovely and sophisticated. By the time the piano strolls into the room, you’re already all in.
This is pop music today. It’s restrained and works against decades of bombast with Sade-esque subtly. Why be loud when you can say what you want with a whisper? Or a want?
Mark has remained a staple without having a true breakthrough. (She’s due.) I’m a huge fan of her Eddie Kendricks cover, and “Lose My Cool” (with a lovely Gil Scott-Heron sample) remains one of my all-time favorites. John the Blind (as John Ryan), on the other hand, has produced massive records for One Direction.
Are they household names? No. Have you heard their work without realizing it’s helping to reshape pop in some way? Absolutely. We may not know yet how that works out.
On a deep cut from Mark’s recent “Pretty Idea” album, they’re magnetic. They leave the volume behind to speak volumes together. By joining forces, they’re quieter – but successfully creating the biggest duet of their careers. Can’t wait to hear more.
