First Listen: Joanna Cooke begs him to "Do It Slow"

(December 4, 2018) UK soul is no stranger to our ears. After the late Amy Winehouse mesmerized us all with the triumphant Back to Black, the tsunami of soul music from that region led by Adele, Floetry, Sam Smith, Estelle and plenty others continued to reign. On “Do It Slow,” UK artist Joanna Cooke traces the Joss Stone blueprint and wondrously blends with Florence Welch atmospherics. Inside the smooth soul ballad taken from her latest EP Some Say, Cooke breathes intimate crooning on a soulful palette stacked with Hammond organ and charming piano. And it has that warm flashback sound that’ll make good company with Aretha Franklin’s early ‘70’s sides.

Much of it can be attributed to its emotional lyrics, where Cooke sings of a slow goodbye: “If you leave me, do it slow/ Be gentle as you go,” she croons. “[It’s] a heartfelt message describing my personal perception of the 'growing pains' of changing circumstance,” the British singer wrote. And the tearful resolution sounds like it’s almost applicable to the decaying of any fading relationship, even expired friendship.

“Do It Slow” is the perfect song to introduce to SoulTrackers from the budding musician and a promising sign of more to come.

Check it out below in this exclusive First Listen and let us know what you think.

By J Matthew Cobb

Joanna Cooke - "Do It Slow"