Today’s review features Chicago, IL (USA), based singer-songwriter Maurice James and his new single “True Star.” He describes this new song as “Cinematic Soul – a heartfelt blend of indie pop and soul rooted in emotional storytelling and timeless soundscapes.”
Son of a Baptist pastor, Marice James grew up surrounded by music, spending much of his childhood in a church sanctuary playing piano. Surrounded by soulful music, he developed his signature style: “warm, expressive vocals paired with rich, atmospheric production that transports listeners into emotional moments.” He released his debut EP, Rare View, in 2020 and introduced his genre-bending sound to the world. He followed up that release with Angels Exist and Ocean View, both in the same style.
His latest single, “True Star,” is a romantic love song written just three days before his wedding and performed for his wife at their reception. Blending soulful vocals, heartfelt stories, and cinematic production, the song captures “being completely in awe of someone you love.”
Maurice believes music has the power to unite and heal, a belief that informs everything he creates. His new single tells a powerful story.
So let’s have a listen …
The track starts with a reverse delay effect on the chords being played on keyboards. After 10 seconds, a male tenor voice comes in singing “there’s that smile, I see when I close my eyes.” I love the heartfelt lyrics, like “the world appears to stop when you walk in.” The soulful voice leads us through the verse a brief pre-chorus, launching into the chorus with “there’s that fire, blazing at the core, endlessly burning with our love.” Singing, “When the stars awake tonight, they’ll be late to the party, because the glow is in your eyes, you’ll always be my true star, and I’ll be forever yours.” Then the cinematic musical uplift, which was missing from the arrangement, comes in with full majestic fury, over which the singer starts scat singing in a higher octave to bring the song home.
SCORE/Excellent: Maurice James’ new single, “True Star,” delivers an emotional and heartfelt cinematic soulful performance of a song the artist wrote for his wife, and performed for her at their wedding. The song is a powerful essay on love wrapped in a slow R&B style arrangement. Great voice. Definitely worth a listen. Much love, Beth
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