You Make Me is the debut single from Julia Dorry, who was born
and raised in Berlin but now calls Aotearoa her home. This four-minute-long
number is all about the vocals, which are front and centre at all times, placed
against a piano for the most part but with a nice full band bringing in
additional elements. This never sounds like a modern number, but instead
hearkens back to the Eighties as it brings in elements of Tamla-style soul and
Sade soft jazz.
Jeff Arantes has displayed a masterclass of production,
ensuring the arrangement is full of space which really allows Julia’s vocals to
shine as they are very much the heart of
everything we hear.
Somewhat surprisingly the song comes to a complete
stop at 2:30, where we get a nice bridge and some delightful solos where Julia
takes the opportunity to throw her voice around and display her wonderful range
and control.
This is a song which feels as if it is aimed more for the live environment
than the studio, and there is a certain amount of repetition which means it
does not always work quite as intended, but the pace allows Julia to really
shine and her vocals are sublime. I certainly look forward to hear more from
her in the future.
Singer songwriter Julia Dorry has a powerful, soul sound which has been influenced by her travels around the world.
Born and raised in Berlin, Germany Julia Dorry started her singing journey at a young age. Inspired by soul, gospel and pop music, Dorry took her unique sound on the road nine years ago. She travelled the world to perform at live gigs and festivals before moving to Auckland, New Zealand. Experiencing a range of different music cultures has influenced Dorry’s tone and helped her find her true sound.