Here at the Send Me Your Ears studio today, we’ve been listening to the latest single from Australia’s Jay Wood. Oh Well is released today, June 30th, 2023.
Oh Well is a charming and endearing song of resilience in the face of adversity. We always love a good story behind a song or an artist, and Jay Wood most certainly ticks the boxes in that department. When doctors told her she would be “totally and permanently incapacitated” and unable to work or play music again, Jay refused to accept that fate. She believed she was destined for more than mere existence. Her resilience and unwavering determination allowed her to reclaim her life and redefine what is possible.
As Jay says, ”I want to share the knowledge that everyone is capable of choice no matter the ‘dire’ circumstance; ‘What happens to you does not matter. What you BECOME through those experiences is all that is significant.”
Oh Well is a quirky, almost Garfunkel and Oates-like ukulele-based song. Its fun and cheeky lyrics will uplift you and make you smile.
“and when the rain starts to fall, making your hair go frizzy
I will tell you that it looks real pretty and I like it better that way anyway.”
This twee track follows a simple strummed ukulele pattern with electronic drums. Bass and extra vocals add some character and depth but the emphasis here is on the simplicity of the track, meaning that the listener really focuses in on the storytelling feel of Jay’s lyrics.
We like the low additional vocals in the choruses and everything about this track is raw, honest and focussed. If you want to hear a vocalist who is very clearly smiling as she sings, look no further than Jay Wood. Her voice is positively delightful and will brighten anyone’s day – if Jay’s aim is to inspire and to put a smile on the face of her listeners, then she’s achieving her goals. A brief breakdown without the ukulele gives the listener chance to hear Wood’s vocals. The song was written before same-sex marriage was legal in Australia, and touches on complex emotions surrounding relationships. If it weren’t for the brief language, we feel this track would be perfect for a sync deal, and would strongly urge Wood to pitch to music supervisors for placement – perhaps in an advert or a cutesie teen romance.
Ideas from our ears
A hi-pass filter set at 100Hz on the Ukulele track would remove some unnecessary low end rumble. Some extra compression on the vocal track could help it sit further forward in the mix and some vocal ‘ducking’ on the ukulele track could also help make the vocals stand out a touch more. Lastly, a high shelf boost set at around 5-6kHz with a cut back down around 10kHz would increase the overall brightness on the track without enhancing too much of the vocal sibilance. As always, these are just some ideas from our ears.
Final thoughts
Jay Wood’s journey and determination shine through in this bouncy, quirky, sex-positive track. Released today, June 30th, 2023.
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