Finding the Rhythm

One of my favorite releases from last year was Destination, written and performed by Jacinta Brondgeest (who perhaps for obvious reasons goes by her first name only). It was a catchy tune with a cool groove that founds its way into nearly every gig I played for several months.

Jacinta is back this year with a new dance single entitled Can’t Keep It a Secret, which she co-wrote with producer Tony Moran. While I’ve only heard one of the mixes so far, it’s another strong new track from an obviously very talented artist.

I’ll leave the details of her bio to her own web site, but one of the things I really dig about Jacinta is the face that she actually writes her own music. So many so-called “dance artists” are really just vocalists who lend their voice to the works of others. (Notably, Ultra Naté comes to mind, not that I dislike her or think she’s untalented—nothing could be farther from the truth. But she’s a singer, and only a singer.) Singing is a genuine talent, no doubt. But the ability to belt-out a tune in a capable manner, and write the lyrics, and write the music, and perform the music… Well, it’s a rare combination, especially in the world of dance music.

Now admittedly, Can’t Keep It a Secret is a collaboration with a famous producer, so perhaps I’m contracting myself here. But you can really hear the influences and commonalities between this new track and her older songs (which you can sample on her web site as well), and she and Moran—in whatever balance—really pulled it off with this one.