Normally, I’d open one of my reviews with a brief introduction to the artist. While I still intend to do that, there’s one thing I must say and highlight: “Essence” has possibly one of my favorite hooks I’ve ever heard. I can’t stop listening to this song and even when I’m not actively listening to it, it’s like I still am because the hook is an eternal echo, haunting my ears and bouncing around my mind. As dramatic as that sounds, it’s accurate. Trying to type this is difficult because I have the vibrant bassline and memorable melodies permeating my thoughts and clouding my ability to write. 

Internet enigma, Oliver Tree has been releasing singles for his upcoming album, Alone In A Crowd for the past few months. Oliver Tree is an artist that is often layered beneath 10 layers of irony and his artistic personas lean into the terrain of ‘if you get it, you get it.’ The music itself however, oftentimes can be seen almost as entirely separate from the characters who deliver them. His latest single, “Essence” is just that. “Essence” is a sentimental love song that treads the water between sweet melodies and funky production. The bassline and drums have a bouncy cadence throughout the song that urge the listener to move. I’m the furthest from someone who dances but I feel involuntarily compelled to do so everytime I hear this song. The lyrical content of “Essence” describes a lover that the speaker can’t live without. Such a theme is prevalent in the hook, “Baby, you're my essence, you make me lose my mind / I can't live a day here without you by my side / I won't ever leave you, I need you in my lif? / Without you, I'm nothing.” As previously stated, the hook is immensely catchy and infectious. Tree offers stellar melodies and an interesting high pitched vocal delivery that gives the hook wonderful color and character. The production and instrumentation further intensifies that irresistible nature of the hook. 

“Essence” is well written, structured, and produced. Oliver has nice rhymes, inventive melodies and flows, as well as delightful harmonies where necessary. “Essence” is full of love and extremely lovable. I have no doubts this will be among his biggest songs like “Miss You'' and “Life Goes On”. The song features an unknown artist by the name of Super Computer. It is most likely another alter ego of Tree’s and perhaps the album will provide context for that. I look forward to the release of Alone In A Crowd because Oliver has spoken very highly of this record at length and it seems to be a culmination of many artistic avenues he’s paved up to this point. With several strong singles and multi-million dollar performances that fuse the craft of concerts, cinema, and broadway, Oliver Tree has an exciting rollout in store for the world. Alone In A Crowd is expected to release September 29th!

Author: Jordan

Jordan Wisniewski is a passionate writer and Hip-Hop artist from North Carolina, US.