The Enchanting Unison of VanJess: A Retrospective of 'Silk Canvas'
Appreciating the fusion of R&B and electro-soul in the Nwokike Sisters' debut album five years later.
Jessica (now AMAKA) and Ivana Nwokike, the sibling pair known as the now-defunct R&B duo VanJess, possess a remarkable personal and artistic harmony. Despite their birth years being twelve months apart, their physical resemblance often leads to the presumption of twinhood, further accentuated by their seamless chemistry. The duo's characteristic sound embodies almost sensual confidence, and the distinct smoky quality of their R&B suggests an intricate fusion of years of dedicated practice and the robust and unique bond they share.
Ivana typically assumes the lead with her robust, resonant voice that slices through their compositions with the force of a thunderstorm. In contrast, Jessica, whose voice exhibits a more subtle and raspy quality akin to TLC's T-Boz, brings a unique character and sparkle to their work. Their synchronicity is such that they trade verses with effortless fluidity, their performances imbued with an enticing allure.
The duo's sole album, Silk Canvas, presents a sophisticated and integrated selection of R&B tracks, exhibiting a slow and thoughtful development process. The musical arrangement that forms the backdrop for the sisters' harmonized vocals seems to morph and adapt like flowing magma. The album is a successful melange of various musical influences. It incorporates elements from Groove Theory's harmonizing R&B, Crystal Waters' emotive house music, the buoyant rhythm of Disclosure, and their distinct vocal chemistry. The result is an intriguing and highly engaging hybrid form of R&B that the genre has witnessed over recent years.
Prominent tracks from the album, such as "Control Me" and "Addicted," owe their musical fabric to IAMNOBODI, who constructs complex, pulsating beats as a canvas for the sisters' romantic narratives. The mesmerizing blend of powerful percussion, nebulous synth sounds, and a captivating Portuguese vocal sample in "Control Me" perfectly matches the duo's style, conjuring up images of them leaving a smoke-laden club on a balmy summer night. Ivana's emotionally charged performance stands out in the track, with her heartfelt expression of longing.
The song "Addicted" oozes an almost tangible desire, making effective use of a rhythmic stop-and-start drum pattern and subtle chord changes that are reminiscent of Aaliyah. However, VanJess avoids merely emulating the sound of the 90s due to their innate musical chemistry and unexpected changes in flow, creating a sense of anticipation and unpredictability in their songs.
The sisters showcase their musical versatility in singles like the comforting "Touch the Floor," featuring Masego, and the dancefloor-friendly "Through Enough," with GoldLink, demonstrating their ability to venture beyond the usual tempo of R&B and explore the electro-soul genre. The most energetic of these offerings, "Another Lover," is the result of their collaboration with KAYTRANADA, whose signature percussive sounds and pulsating synths push VanJess's vocals over house beats. This partnership proves ideal, with Ivana's strong vocal performance accompanying KAYTRA's drop, further enhancing the listening experience.
Silk Canvas embodies the ambiance of a sultry summer night spent on a friend's rooftop. Although the sisters' lyrics often focus more on creating an atmosphere than conveying actual thematic content, constantly revolving around normal subjects of desire, heartache, and the celebration of the good life, the character and charm in their voices often compensate for this.
However, the final portion of the album experiences a slight decline due to an aural and lyrical saturation. Except for "Easy," the concluding four tracks resemble B-side versions of superior songs earlier in the album, and "Best Believe" is an overproduced, surprisingly unimpressive pop track and stands out as the album's only true letdown.
The sisterly duo's charisma and musical prowess ensure the success of Silk Canvas, making it a confident affirmation of sensuality, musical aptitude, and sibling solidarity that stands tall amidst the emerging wave of R&B music. A brief moment of vulnerability surfaces in "Through Enough" when Ivana confesses, "I have played and haven’t always won/Every guard will stay up." But then Jessica joins, and their unyielding harmonies and complete confidence sweep away the fleeting moment. For now, VanJess only reveal what they choose to, keeping their deeper selves reserved for their eyes only.