On their collaborative EP, Joeboy Heads Into Wizard Chan’s Soundscape And They Combine To Make Soulful Music.
When it comes to the business of making spiritually charged, folk music—Wizard Chan is probably the best in the business so much that he gets accusations of his music being cultist adjacent, because the ambience easily supersedes that of average folk music. The rare fusion of chants, visceral drum patterns and tales about survivor’s guilt—all combine for a frequency so sonically effulgent like gospel music.
Joeboy on the other hand is a popstar, who dabbles in R&B/soul fusion, so at face value the synergy of this partnership might seem a little suspect. However, fans of both artistes who have probably been paying attention to said artistes appearances on each other’s projects—would know they have a chemistry rooted in their respective emotive sensitivities. They might be on opposite ends of the mainstream spectrum, but they both make emotionally resonant music for the soul.
Joeboy’s songs are pop-leaning with uptempo rhythms, but he’s primarily an R&B artist who anchors the sentiments of his songs in strong emotions. While Wizard Chan operates on a more dense territory, tackling grand narratives that speak about the human condition and mental fortitude. The artistry of the duo couldn’t be any more different, but they have a similar foundation of emotions and said emotions impact on one’s mental state.
The EP opens with Fall Back In Your Arms, a somber song punctuated with soft hand-patted drums and classical guitar strings. Despite his reputation as an “elephant,” Wizard is no stranger to being vulnerable and willingly concedes to falling back in his lover’s arms in his vulnerable moments. The choral vocals make for very earnest feels and Joeboy’s croonings about the potency of his lover making him clam up like a nervous teen, newly in love—matches the wholesome nature of the record.
100 Meters has a more kinetic bounce to it, although it doesn’t escalate into mainstream groovy territory and remains mellow. The contrast between Wizard’s alto and Joeboy’s tenor is so rich here and it makes so much sense for the latter to take the lead on the song, because it’s more upbeat. Subtle highlife synths also simmer beneath the surface, as both artists admit to the fact that their love interests have their respective hearts racing so hard, like they’re in a competitive race.
Woman has a dancehall twist to it and Joeboy deplores his trademark R&B flows, which works to a tee because bashment and blues exist on the same BPM. Wizard is the star of the show on this record and he brings that rasta flava in his vocal performance. It’s one of the more straightforward songs on the EP with grand declarations of love all round, but it works because the magic here is in the frequency.
Qing Madi is enlisted on Love Sick Crazy for a reggae-infused record, which is a sharp deviation from the preceding record that was a celebratory love record. On this song, the trio is reluctant about loving recklessly without inhibitions as they fear it’ll be their end. What makes this song work isn’t just the fact that there are three talented vocalists with varying pitches that make for a beautiful melody overlap, but also the chemistry of their verses bleeding in and out of each other’s.
Wizard sings about his tendencies to go it all alone and drown in his own head on Loner and cries out for help in form of emotional connection. Joeboy on the other hand is more unapologetic about his one-man crusade and frames it as a personal mission to conquer his demons, because it’s a cold world and he can’t trust anyone. It is profound thematic contrasts like this and sonic ones in other areas, that makes this project really work.
The curtains close on the two-parter of Lazarus and Forever. The former is culturally propulsive with rhythmic ceremonial drums and celebratory chants. Wizard and Joeboy make a toast to their resilient spirits, thus alluding that they’ll keep going on and defy death if need be, like Lazarus did. Forever is more introspective and both artists indulge in some self reflection, dabbed in healthy braggadocio. They make it pretty clear that they are chosen to make music and didn’t stumble into their success by happenstance.
Joeboy & Wizard Chan’s Agaba Romantic is a celebration of love, life and success. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea and will be an acquired taste for Joeboy’s mainstream leaning fans especially, but the music here is soul food and deeply therapeutic if given a chance. It’s a commendable effort that both artists made it work, despite their vastly different sonic roots.
Final Verdict:
Sonic Cohesion: 1.5/2
Expansive Production: 1.3/2
Songwriting: 1.5/2
Delivery: 1.5/2
Optimal Track Sequencing: 1.3/2
Total: 7.1/10
