MAJID JORDAN'S SECOND ALBUM OFFERS MASTERPIECES THAT COMFORT LISTENERS
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Comprised of two friends, Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman, the pair have progressed from producing an array of EP’s, to releasing two albums and are now due to commence their world tour. The Space Between is an innovative creation and a clear development of their self-titled first album. It has received widespread critical acclaim and been celebrated by fans across the globe.
The only collaborations which appear on the album are from their fellow OVO Sound signees, dvsn and PARTYNEXTDOOR. Majid Jordan are known for their minimalism - having chosen to keep collaborations to a minimum, the duo commented that this was in an attempt to stay true to themselves.
October’s Very Own is without doubt living up to their name, with Majid Jordan’s second studio album - The Space Between, being the latest amongst the string of releases from the record label. The Canadian duo has returned with a pop-R&B project, reminiscent of the sounds of the intricate productions on their 2016 debut album.
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Since being signed to the Toronto-based label, the duo has connected on the works of several artists, the most recognised being Drake’s smash hit Hold On, We’re Going Home from his third studio album, Nothing Was the Same. The song peaked at number four in the United Kingdom and number 5 on the Canadian Hot 10 and US Billboard chart.
Following the composition of Ullman’s nostalgic instrumentals, each song began to portray its own event. Although shifting away from the darker feel of their previous works, Majid Jordan have stayed true to their writing style with the simple yet effective play on words throughout the songs in the album. Collectively, the album is a continuous ballad about the dynamics of choice and the feelings of void, apprehension, and longing - recurring themes that listeners can seek comfort in. Perhaps this is what makes the album such a likeable project.
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The highly-anticipated project serves melancholy R&B rhythms about love-related decisions while also delving into the deeper thoughts of the artists. Whilst Gave Your Love Away, OG Heartthrob and Not Ashamed adopt the classic Majid Jordan style and are representations of admitting wrongs and showing vulnerability, songs like Body Talk, One I Want, You, and What You Do to Me are where we are induced with the feeling of longing, of missing someone. Similarly, Phases and Asleep speak on the emotions felt caused by missing something.
The duo cites their musical inspirations from French house and UK electronic music to Brazilian bands, R&B and hip-hop. Jordan Ullman creates eclectic bass lines throughout the album, mixing R&B elements with 80s synth-pop - merging his instrumentals with the sounds of one of his earliest influencers - Quincy Jones.
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Their roots trace back to when the two met on Majid’s 21st birthday at Toronto pub The Beaconsfield, where an underage Jordan snuck into. Within a day of their first meeting, the two collaborated on “Hold Tight” - their first song released on their SoundCloud under the moniker GOOD People, which would later become the second track on their 2013 project afterhours. Shortly after the EP dropped in August 2013, Drake’s right-hand producer, Noah '40' Shebib listened to the duo’s work and passed it onto Drake himself. Within the same month, the pair were signed to the artist’s Canadian record label, OVO Sound.
Majid Jordan have demonstrated change and growth throughout The Space Between and this is evident through the songs that project the trials and errors of their journey.
However, instead of being ashamed of their choices and decisions, we are left with The Space Between as the final song, where we realise that it is acceptable to endure the things that have posed a challenge to us. It's evident that the duo shares a chemistry that cannot go unnoticed, which is spoken through each song on the album.
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Undeniably, each song alone is a creative masterpiece, but as a whole, the album provides a sense of comfort for listeners, even in states of pain. The uninterrupted transition between the tracks creates a sense of enchantment, while reminding listeners that the change they do not grasp is The Space Between – an empty place we find ourselves in without realisation.
Yet, it's an encouraging project, portraying the view that you should pursue a journey regardless of any obstacles – the key is to keep moving forward. This contrasts against the previous works of the duo, which was commonly associated with ‘moody R&B’.
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Majid Jordan’s most recent performance in London was on their European tour in 2016 - a sold out show at popular night club Heaven. Now, the duo is back with their first international tour, which commenced in January 2018. They’ll be kicking things off in the UK on 2 March. Don’t miss one of the most relevant R&B acts of the era at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London on 7 March.
Majid (left) and Jordan (right) performing at one of their concerts
The duo are touring in Europe this March with French electronic musician Stwo
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Majid Jordan - The Space Between