Review: Mack Kean & ESTA “Intersections” EP
I will never forget the moment I discovered Mack Keane. I was fresh into creating my Instagram account and was building the pool of influential creatives, musicians, and artists that made the music I love the most. Among them was Joyce Wrice, fresh from breaking through with her album “Overgrown”. That album was everywhere, you could not miss the gorgeous blue cover art and she was very active on socials to promote it. Props to her because that release was INDEPENDENT. Anyway, in one of her stories she shared a snippet of an unfinished song that featured a male vocalist, who just so happened to be Mack Keane. Something in those 10-seconds had me INSTANTLY. The rest is history because RNB Nerd did what we do best; dive deep into the R&B waters looking for more to love. And family, I have without a doubt found it. This is RNB Nerd’s review of Mack Keane and ESTA’s EP, “Intersections”.
Without You” opens the project with a sentimental piano melody and woozy guitar strings that come together creating the feeling of an emotional hangover. Honest lyrics that show our vocalist pour out his heart in a way that leaves no question about how he feels and his state of mind. The melodies are laced with a light melancholy that is both singable, clear, and effective in conveying the almost desperation of the situation we are coming into as the listener. Mack is literally singing, ‘without you I'm nothing” - DAMN!
“More to Life” brings a sick switch up, jumping head first into the vibe that I always knew a project between ESTA and Mack would sound like in my mind. Guitar and acoustic heavy, the concoction is layered with umpteen vocal stacks and melodies that linger upon one another like shadows. The lyrics feel like they come from some of the most hurt filled parts of our vocalist, that feeling of trying to hold on after a loss has taken a new direction. You can hear the pain and Mack holds nothing back, almost foreshadowing the life of his lover and calling out all their antics. I love how such a raw message can be wrapped up in beautiful music like this. MUY impressed!
“Thought of You” feels like the MAGNUM OPUS of the project. I would never label or limit anyone, but if I had to show someone what I felt was a definitive work for these three, THIS IS IT. I wish I could put into words the way the guitar melody makes me feel, it takes me higher each time it goes off. If you could only feel the energy I feel, it comes from deep inside and makes everything fade away. Sorry I have a lot of feelings about this one lol Joyce comes in on the second verse, sounding so sincere, giving us some signature ad-libs that give the song another dimension. The song closes with two more hits of that magical guitar and it hammers home just how much went into this one.
Fresh from the very romantic and gushing moment that was “Thought of You”, “Open Up” is a confessional of emotions coated in a hazy intoxication, something like static. The listener hangs on every word that Mack is saying, albeit a challenge in some parts of the record. In the moments I felt the most lost at sea, Mack’s gorgeous falsetto brings me back to calmer waters. I find that a lot of the beauty in Mack’s voice is his ability to hop from gentle whispers to some strong belts. This highlights the range he has and makes following his artistic journey that much more exciting.
“O.M.L.” featuring Destin Conrad is DEFINITIVE, classic, slow-jam R&B reimagined by these gentlemen who I feel could be the future of the genre. Soaked in melodies, the lyrics are painful and leave you feeling bad for two guys who now recognize (and mourn) the absence of a former flame. The chemistry and harmony is as you would expect, flawless and blends effortlessly. There were moments where I was unsure on where Destin ended and Mack picked up lead vocals. The video is sultry and dark, mimicking the vibe of the record. Seeing these guys adopt the vintage style is fly too!
“Never Enough” has Mack coming out the gates swinging, quickly laying some vocals that leave this RNB Nerd 100% satisfied. He could sing the first 50 seconds and that would be enough for me (pun intended). But as I mentioned in the review of “Open Up”, Mack uses this record to demonstrate some of those croonful belts and fuller vocal punches. I have to admit, this reminds me of a young Jon B., both the falsetto and the stripped back material. And like Jon, LOVE is at the center of every sweet and tender expression coming from Mack’s voice. What a way to close the project, it feels like A Midsummer Night's Dream brought to life and I LOVE Shakespeare.
Mack Keane, ESTA, and their peripheral band of creatives have come forward with some of the most refreshing and advantageous music in the R&B space in recent times. Further, Mack’s entire catalogue is built on his extremely soulful tone that carries such veracity, I am BEYOND excited for how he continues to evolve. I wonder what Mack would sound like on production from Rodney Jerkins, Hitmaka, or even Danja. The musical brotherhood that these two have is undeniable and made something great for the people. I don’t think I could ever NOT believe in Mack, ESTA, and their group of super friends who are making SUPERB R&B.
