In her music video, the clips of the dancers (from what I think may be the twenties) give off a nostalgic vibe of a sentiment older than time, which is the game of love. ​​I would be very interested to see this song performed with a jazz quartet or quintet, and I can imagine that the composition would be very gorgeous in live performance. That's not to take anything away from the recorded song; in fact, the song is so inspiring that it's fun to think of additional possibilities. I wouldn't play around with something that I didn't feel good about in the first place.

As the composition blooms, I begin to notice additional synth and keyboard lines weaving in and out, very much like jazz players taking turns with rides, which may attribute to the thoughts I had when the track first began. "The Game" by Caiine is a great song about a timeless theme and the universal struggle to find our way without being hurt. Although there may be no winning formula for protecting our hearts, Caiine definitely hits the mark with "The Game."

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The vocals are a great match with the production, effortlessly gliding across the song. The energy stays low, rumbling along, before the beat begins to sub-divide, blooming into the type of song that is right at home with neon lights.

Often, when artists find solid elements they believe in when writing, they either overwrite with too many elements, or stop too soon, failing to complete the journey. Bedstudy shows a great maturity with their production and songwriting, seemingly knowing they have found a sweet spot, with a couple of subtle and dramatic turns. The arrangement keep things low-key, yet intense and engaging. Bedstudy gives great "counter-punches" within the song, leaving listeners reaching for repeat.  

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​Leah Vee's "The Source" is a wonderfully soothing song. Its somber rainy day type beat meshes very well with her delivery: neo-soul and R&B flair mixed with East coast production places the listener smack dab in the middle of her struggle. As an MC, Leah does a great job of maximizing her voice and gives solid, meditative, thought-provoking lyrics focused on suppression, fear, and regret. It's hard not to relate. 

All in all, I feel fortunate to have listened; she reminds me of Rez (whose sound I adore) with more Hip-Hop influences. Good MC's are able to reflect on experiences in a broad sense, allowing listeners to latch onto words while applying their own meaning. It's a difficult trick, one that Leah is well on her way to mastering, if she hasn't already. One of the main ways that we connect with one another as human beings is by being vulnerable. I believe Leah understands this and takes the time to do so with a number of well-placed lyrical passages. A couple that come to mind are: "I will admit that I'm afraid" and "reluctant to begin a new phase." Being forward and upfront about this type of mental or emotional stress lets the listener know the performer is human. It's a foundation of human connection and "The Source" has begun laying the groundwork for such a connection with me, and for that I say thank you.

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