It was only a couple of weeks ago that we last heard from Dayton artist GrandAce, when he released his EP, Colors in the Office. You didn’t have to wait long for the follow up effort, as we now get his brand-new EP, Feel Good.

If Colors in the Office was about looking back on 2017 and trying to deal with the struggles and hurt that came in the past year, Feel Good is the companion piece where this young man tries to dust off his shoulders and look forward with optimism. There’s not a dramatic shift in style or overall sound, as GrandAce is still working in his own unique blend of hip hop and R&B. It’s more of a subtle shift in the general tone of the music, which is then amplified by GrandAce’s optimistic lyrics. All of the things that made his last EP so appealing are still true here, which is to say that GrandAce is a talented producer, vocalist, and emcee, and he’s learned in a very short time how to best utilize all of his assets in a way that blends all of his influences together and makes some great pop music that sounds all his own. His music has a very warm sound, and he’s got great tone to his voice, and he’s got a real knack for composition. What I really appreciate here is that he’s able to compose an optimistic EP, but he never sounds too corny or motivational – he’s not being naïve or foolish in his optimism, just hopeful and determined to make things better. As he’s doing this, he’s able to weave in this prog-jazz/R&B style that traces back to Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind & Fire, while also incorporating some really modern hip hop production techniques, which comes together to make some music that is both challenging, but also readily accessible. It’s catchy and fun to listen to, but there are plenty of layers to dig into when you listen to it again and again.

2018 has gotten off to a great start for GrandAce. Colors in the Office said goodbye to 2017, and Feel Good welcomes in 2018, all done in a way that sounds much more mature that a lot of GrandAce’s contemporaries. The most exciting part is knowing that he’s only just begun to tap his potential.