Jake Marshall continues to push boundaries with Next Time, the defining single from his debut EP, Better Luck Next Time. The perennial pop earworm blasts past contemporary trends with its retro-futurist spin on disco, funk, synth pop, and Avant Garde indietronica. Marshall’s music remains unapologetically unique, and Next Time is no exception, delivering the kind of sonic innovation that makes you fall a little deeper for his unfeigned artistry and unflinching mission to capture the messiness of the psyche as it wrestles with themes of affection and rejection.
The track evolves and drifts into obscure interstellar experimentation, allowing the listener to imagine what John Grant could create with the sardonic grit of Fidlar. It’s a testament to Marshall’s restraint-less approach to laying it all down on the line—idiosyncrasies and all. Next Time carries the emotional resonance of heartbreak but reframes it as an empowering experience; this ongoing saga of self-discovery is as stunning to hear as it is to witness, particularly as Marshall gains both artistic confidence and career traction.
Anchored by his striking four-octave range, Marshall delivers every lyric with a depth that feels revolutionary in a genre where vulnerability can often be an afterthought. The dynamic vocal lines, paired with the intricate production courtesy of Daniel Finn, create a rich sonic panorama that bridges raw emotionality with experimentalism.
Next Time will be available to stream across all major platforms from January 3rd, including Soundcloud.
Review by Amelia Vandergast