“Something About You” is a mild, emotional yet danceable masterpiece that already resonates deeply with its audience. The foundation is incredibly solid, and the vocal delivery is both real and intimate.
By Emmanuel Esomnofu
This Afro-fusion track, “Something About You”, is packed with heart and soul, beautifully blending Afro-R&B with a dash of Hip-Hop. It really sets a romantic mood, drawing listeners in with its soft rhythms and undeniable emotional pull. Percy and Dalli’s performances are truly jovial and passionate, making the song’s feelings clear and incredibly relatable. The core of this track is undeniably strong, but with a few tweaks to the mix, it could easily transform into a polished, radio-ready hit.
The singers’ voices are front and centre, exactly where they should be. Every lyric is crystal clear, and their delivery feels wonderfully genuine, creating a strong connection with the listener. However, there are moments where some “S” sounds come across a bit too sharp. This sibilance can be smoothed out with a de-esser, which helps soften those harsh frequencies.
When both artistes sing together, the low-mid range of their voices, that warm, deeper area, can get a little cloudy, or muddy as it’s popularly called.. A bit of EQ (equalisation) would clear this up, giving both voices more room to breathe. Also, the background vocals feel like they’re sitting right in the middle of the mix. Spreading them out more across the left and right sides would make the overall sound feel much bigger and more immersive.
The kick drum is a solid, consistent anchor for the groove, doing its job well. The only catch is that it sometimes competes with the bass, as both seem to occupy the same frequency space. A common solution here is sidechaining, where the bass momentarily dips in volume each time the kick hits. This lets both shine without stepping on each other’s toes. The snare or clap, which gives the beat its flare, sounds clean and well-placed but could use a little more punch to cut through the mix.
Transient shaping can add that extra sharpness to the beginning of the sound. The hi-hats and other small percussive elements are perfectly timed, yet they seem a bit buried. A touch more brightness in the high-end frequencies would help them stand out and add a bit of sparkle to the mix.
The instruments supporting the vocals, like the soft pads, synths, or keys, do create a wonderfully relaxing and emotional backdrop that perfectly fits the song’s mood. However, in sections with active vocals, these background instruments tend to fade too far into the mix. Rather than just turning them up, it’s more effective to use EQ to carve out specific frequency spaces. This allows the vocals and instruments to coexist comfortably without clashing. The bass, whether a guitar or synth, boasts a lovely, sidetickling tone that complements the groove. Still, it feels a tad too thick in the middle of the low range.
Tightening this up slightly would make the entire mix cleaner and more modern without sacrificing its emotional depth. “Something About You” has a thoughtful structure, flowing naturally from verses to choruses.
While the overall arrangement feels organic, there’s an opportunity to add more excitement during transitions. Imagine a short echo at the end of a line or a rising sound that leads into the chorus; these creative effects could make those moments more dramatic and emotionally impactful. Such small production choices help tell the story not just through lyrics, but through the very sound of the music.
The rap verse is a standout moment, bringing a fresh energy and rhythm that shifts the mood without disrupting the listener’s experience. It adds a welcome sense of edge and urgency that beautifully complements the song’s softer earlier section. The transition into the rap is smooth, but in the mix, the rap vocal could be brought forward a bit more. Right now, it blends a little too much with the instrumental.
Using EQ to remove clashing frequencies and some gentle compression could help the rap truly stand out. A bit of stereo widening or light vocal layering would also give it more character. This rap truly adds an important layer to the song, and with a few tweaks, it could easily become one of its strongest elements. It’s great that Audio Animals Ltd mixed “Something About You” and Viighoo mastered it.
Both put in their best work, and it shows, to be frank. Understanding the difference between these two stages is key. Mixing is where each sound, like the vocals, drums, and instruments, is balanced, shaped, and placed across the stereo field; it’s about how everything fits together.
Mastering, on the other hand, is the final polish, ensuring the song sounds cohesive, loud enough, and clean across all speakers and streaming platforms. While the mix defines the song’s detail and feel, the mastering ensures it translates beautifully everywhere. That said, in some of the song’s louder moments, particularly the chorus, the overall sound feels a bit “squeezed.” This is likely due to heavy compression, which can sometimes diminish a track’s natural energy. Easing up on that compression would allow the song to breathe more and preserve its emotional impact.
The stereo image, showcasing how wide the song feels, could also be expanded, especially in the background instruments, making listeners feel more enveloped by the music.
In terms of loudness, “Something About You” is at a decent level for casual listening, but a little more punch and brightness would help it compete more effectively with other songs on streaming platforms
like Spotify or Apple Music. In essence, “Something About You” is a mild emotional yet danceable masterpiece that already resonates deeply with its audience. The foundation is incredibly solid, and the vocal delivery is both real and intimate. With a few thoughtful improvements to the mix, such as clearing up vocal muddiness, tightening the rhythm section, giving the rap verse more identity, and expanding the stereo space—this song could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with the best Afro-fusion releases out there.
Right now, it’s a good song with immense potential. With the right attention to detail, “Something About You” is absolutely poised to reach that coveted next level.
Emmanuel Esomnofu is a Nigerian writer and culture journalist. He’s working on his debut manuscript.