The creative musical energy flourishing in Toronto is special, residing and spreading across the cold Canadian air in a contagious fashion over the past several years and the world has taken notice. Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman (the singer and producer who compromise the youthful duo Majid Jordan) met each other’s acquaintance during the now-infamous OVOXO era (the peak of Drake and The Weeknd’s run of dominance) of Toronto’s hip-hop/alternative R&B. After earning the immediate respect of Noah Shebib (better known as 40, Drake’s right hand man producer), Majid Jordan played an instrumental role in crafting one of Drake’s biggest hits thus far “Hold On We’re Going Home” and were invited spots on the OVO Sound roster. Rather than seek out industry fame, Majid Jordan opted to remain behind the scenes and released new music in relative anonymity, with their 2014 debut EP titled A Place Like This being criminally slept on amongst the masses but beloved by OVO aficionados.
After gaining some steam last year with a pair of well-performing singles, Majid Jordan recently released their first self-titled studio album. While the early sales for the project have been less than desirable, the financials do not take away from its merit as an earnest yet impassioned affair, showcasing the duo’s intimate appeal and a minimal flair for creating endearing records which should lead to an even brighter future.
For those not privy to Majid Jordan, they make the type of music fit for a VIP lounge at an upscale, vibrant establishment. The scaled back, pulsating sound that they’ve carved out for themselves over the past few years prevails here as the intro track “Learn From Each Other” excels as an ambient offering of an alternative R&B/pop/dance amalgam that moves in fluid motion alongside Majid’s heartfelt lyricism. Thematically, Majid Jordan primarily focuses on romantic reflections ranging from bottling emotions inside with the fear of bringing relationship issues to life (“Make It Work”) to genuine displays of affection (“Warm”/”Love Is Always There) exhibiting Majid as a naturally gifted vocalist. While the song concepts are periodically at risk of sounding generic and cliché due to a lack of specificity, Majid Jordan allows the listener to relate to its late-night, sentimental stories with personal interpretations, bringing about a strong level of emotional connection that every artist should strive for.
The mellow, relaxation-inducing atmosphere of Majid Jordan gives plenty of room for the album to thrive as a collection of loft music meant for trendy gatherings seeking a mid-tempo playlist, respectfully blending in with the afterhours rather than dominating the vibe with pleas for attention. This quality is prevalent throughout most of the project, but there are certainly climaxes within the body of work, namely its pair of more high profile singles. “My Love” is a culmination of Majid Jordan’s skill-set and a collaboration providing concrete proof of their chemistry with Drake. The track is a standout effort describing the doubts that come with being hesitant about a woman’s intentions with a man experiencing fame/success, a concept entirely in tune with Drake’s artistry and his guest appearance (particularly the bridge of the song) fits as well as one would expect. However, the duo don’t need the OVO leader to bring out their A game, with “Something About You” perhaps being more impressive with its electronic/house-esque bounce being matched with a polished song structure and splendid pre-chorus performance, providing proof of Majid Jordan as well-equipped to reach both dance floors across the world and the dimly lit bedrooms seeking music to set the mood.
Specializing in a sub-genre crowded with imitators, Majid Jordan has been fleshing out their sound for several years and this body of work is a proper unveiling of their talents. Already crowned as the secret weapon of the OVO label, it is no surprise to see universally respected musicians of the city gravitate toward their captivating aura, captured flawlessly on “King City”, a record special to those from Ontario and awe-inspiring to the rest of us as Majid depicts his north of the border utopia with a chilling falsetto. The duo is fully capable of delivering these types of special moments, yet Majid Jordan lacks a bit in boldness because it mostly chooses to stay in their logical lane of progression rather than taking risks into more expansive realms (a territory they effectively explore on the catchy “Shake Shake Shake”).
Overall, the album is a fine effort thanks to Majid’s comforting vocals and Jordan’s (with help from 40, Illangelo and Nineteen85) hypnotizing production. And while the album will be a pleasantly eye-opening surprise to new fans of the Toronto duo, the best part of the project is the understanding of just how much more they have in store as they learn how to push the envelope both lyrically and sonically. The carpet has been rolled out and Majid Jordan has successfully marked their turf as princes of their domain. Majid and Jordan will only grow from here, and we will be following their progression every step of the way.
Repeatable: “Something About You”, “My Love”
Skippable: “Pacifico”