Juls - Hold You Down (Single)
World renowned GRAMMY award nominated producer and DJ Juls emerges with his first release of the year, the sultry ‘Hold You Down' featuring rising Alté star Odeal.
‘Hold You Down’ is a gently seductive record that simmers with romance; a candid depiction of intimacy captured via Juls’ tastefully curated instrumental and Odeal’s gossamer vocals and songwriting. The song’s drum beat gently bubbles, providing a buoyant foundation for its gentle keys and Odeal’s soft yet commanding voice. In his lyrics, Odeal oscillates between sentimental and salacious with lines like "You better use me when I get home” perfectly conveying his feelings towards his lover.
Speaking on how the song came about, Juls says: “Odeal is one of the most talented artists I’ve ever come across in the last few years. We spoke about potentially working for time but I wasn’t ready. I have fallen in love with this new sound he’s been experimenting with so it felt right”
Across the past decade, Juls has distinguished himself as an artist that bridges the gap between various musical sounds and styles, connecting the diaspora at large with his production that blends Afrobeats, Reggae, Soul, Hip-Hop, Dancehall and more. A London born Ghanaian, Juls carries his culture proudly in his musical output and has worked with a number of prominent Afrobeats artists including Burna Boy, Wande Coal, Wizkid and long time collaborator Mr Eazi. In 2021 Juls released his debut album Sounds Of My World which received critical acclaim and featured a stellar cast of intercontinental collaborators including Wizkid, Sam Wise, Fireboy DML, Oxlade, Knucks and more.
Similarly, Odeal is a musician that seeks to blend various styles in his music, identifying as an Alté artist, his music incorporates elements of R&B, Afrobeats, UK rap and electronic sounds to create something that is equally vibrant and trailblazing as the genres he takes inspiration from. In his career, Odeal has collaborated with the likes of Enny, Abra Cadabra, Emil and others.
‘Hold You Down’ is a dawning of the next chapter in Juls’ career, as he simultaneously looks to the future and takes a moment to appreciate all he has achieved across his 10 year career. Recent highlights for Juls have included the release of last year’s sublime Palmwine Diaries EP (which spawned an in-depth feature with BBC Africa about the project), and a sold out weekly residency at Jazz Cafe coinciding with Black History Month.
‘Hold You Down’ is a record that contains all the quality characteristics of a Juls hit and also serves as an exciting indicator of what’s to come.