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. It 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.
Rating: 7/10
