BOX OF CHOCOLATES: A GIFT FROM SIERRA BLAX

There's a distance of over 4.500 miles between the island of Kaua’i, and the city of Detroit, Michigan. Music is of course boundless and in this day and age, distance is easier measured by Kb/s than by any other unit or metric. So what happens when a Motor City genre is refracted through the lens of different geography and climate? would such things even affect music at all? 

The short answer is yes, as all music is by and large the result of personal circumstances, one need only look at the differences between East (NYC) and West coast (L.A.)  classic Hip-Hop to notice how each assumes a sound that reflects the vibes of their places of origin. How one is more laid-back

Today we're taking a look at Sierra Blax and her newest single, "Box Of Chocolates"  in which the setting to her youth  -the aforementioned island- is rather present in the way it floats steadily between a chill and relaxed atmosphere and an underlying tropical dynamism. 

The pop-R&B formula (of which we seem to be in no short supply of) actually caught me a bit off-guard by leaning on something of a cocktail-lounge-muzak vibe. The beat and bassline are very much contemporary and the soft synth at the background is sparingly and delicately employing what seems to be a Rhodes piano preset (a better ear with a bigger headcyclopedia, please correct me) that fades in and out of the track gracefully at the right time in a way that held the track together musically for me (vocals aside). making what would otherwise be a simply serviceable backing track into a more sensible and layered experience, it's amazing what the little subtle details can achieve.

Sierra Blax's beautiful voice is beyond delightful, and she shows a great deal of restraint and maturity, no uncalled-for flourishes, nothing is out of place with the spirit of her lyrics, only an equanimous and smooth journey through the sensuous and the self-reflective nature of "Box Of Chocolates", a song that "explores the human experience as it's connected to nature, and ultimately finding peace and love within yourself."

Sierra's voice developed through weekly coaching with local teacher Debbi Scarpell, and a little later in life, she sought professionalism and polish at the University of Hawaii, where she studied vocal performance in a way that was so challenging and different to her that she contemplated giving up on more than one occasion, however, I firmly believe that struggle teaches the best of lessons, and Sierra's perseverance did pay off, as she came out the other side of that Music Program with tools and experiences that she will no doubt keep employing in her very bright future. I'm hoping to hear more of her soon, and I'm particularly interested in hearing what she's capable of with a bolder and less electro-pop sound behind her vocals.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Samuel Aponte is Venezuelan-born raised and based. 

I joined Rival Magazine after a few years of doing PR work for independent musicians of all stripes; understanding their struggles to be heard in a sea of constant  ADHD noise and paywalled access to platforms, I now bring a willingness to always appreciate and encourage the effort and creativity that artists put into their work . Can also find some of my writings on LADYGUNN and We Found New Music.