Jodie Nicholson - “What If I”

Singer-songwriter Jodie Nicholson from the North East of England has just shared the dream pop track, “What If I .”

“What If I” opens with a lush, intimate vibe, oozing tender, mellow layers that set a meditative atmosphere. A warm synth layer gently pads the composition, while an electric guitar adds a light, shimmering texture, fleshing out the rhythmic groove. Sounds are allowed to linger and permeate, drawing the listener into the composition. The track feels delightfully immersive and intimate here, reminiscent of artists like Tei Shi.

As the song progresses, the electric piano reflectively further fleshes out the melody, while a subdued kick drum introduces a heartbeat to the track, helping to build a sense of tension. This tension is released majestically as the full drum kit enters for the crescendo. Upon entering its peak, “What If I” shifts to a more assertive, electro-indie-pop vibe akin to AURORA. The drums set a snappy kick-snare groove, with rich tom drum patterns that add a swaggering intricacy as synth layers pulse vibrantly and euphorically.

Nicholson’s vocal performance is incredibly intimate and gentle in tone. It gorgeously and melodically leads you through the composition with a reflective ease. The breathy tones are richly surrounded by warm harmonious layers that elegantly rise. At the crescendo, these layers of vocals become strikingly immersive, heightening the meditative atmosphere. As the song draws to its end, there is a hint of Grimes in the gentle, swirling, expressive calls.

On “What If I” Jodie Nicholson adds: “…I remember thinking that I didn’t want to lose sight of why I love making music, what made me want to start releasing music in the first place. I think I was feeling quite under pressure to write and make good music, ironically for this record, and all the far-ahead planning that comes with being an artist was really getting to me. Writing ‘What If I’ felt like a remedy to all that.”