ELENA is a Jamaican born UK resident who shows clear inspiration from these dual influences. Her new single Bashment Ladies combines a reggae vocal style with a dancehall, r&b, bass-led melody.
The main concerns which arise from listening to the single can be directed towards the production. The music is too low in the mix and whilst Elena's vocals are strong, they are simply not able to fill the sonic space that the minimalist bass melody creates. This could be easily rectified by increasing the volume of the drums, which would give the track some much needed kick.
The video for the single is perfectly acceptable, but Elena could do more to look like she's enjoying herself. It features her and the 'Bashment Ladies' dancing in front of variously colourful backdrops.
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Not to linger on the negative, Bashment Ladies does have some definite pluses. By fusing dancehall, r&b and reggae, Elena is clearly trying to do something new and interesting. She also displays her talents as a singer, even though production does let her down. Hopefully, her next single will feature more musical depth, but this is a half-decent start.
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