KARLY JEWELL - Dancing With The Devil

January 21, 2021 Sense Crew

Pictured: Mariano Marcos, Adrian Kluke, Karly Jewell + David Beaton - KARLY JEWELL
Photo by: Lea Rose - Tattoorose Photography

The Sombre Sound of the Devil’s Sting

Written by: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media

One of the latest talents in recent years to hit the stage in Melbourne, Australia is singer-Songwriter KARLY JEWELL. From an early age she has been immersed in music, with her grandfather being a highly acclaimed country singer-songwriter TONY JEWELL (known for his close work with one of the biggest country music artists in Australia SLIM DUSTY) who introduced her to guitar which inspired Karly to create her own story through music. With a range of skills working across several different genres, Karly has found a fitting home in Rock ‘n’ Roll. Since forming her own band she has worked with many different producers and artists right across the world, while touring not just Australia but internationally.

The band itself is currently made up of guitarist Adrian Kluke, bassist David Beaton, Drummer Mariano Marcos and of course Karly Jewell herself. Their sound can be described as hard-hitting, riff-driven rock with a unique vocal flavour that uses subtle influences from Karly’s musical journey to create a classic grunge vibe. This explains the band’s success in playing iconic Melbourne venues like The Corner Hotel, Revolver and The Espy Gershwin Room and Californian venues such as Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles, Trip Bar and also the famous Viper Room in Hollywood, CA.

Following the reach of their debut album Phoenix in 2018, Karly and the band furthered their reach worldwide with features on: Poze Productions (US), Moshville Times (UK), HEAVY Magazine (Aus), Forte Magazine (Aus), Not the Girl Next Door Rock Radio (US), Graffiti TV (UK), Australian Hard Rock Show (AUS), Stone & Steel Radio (US). With massive plans for worldwide tours in Japan and California put on hold in 2020, Karly and the band have been working on new music to back up their already stunning resume. So without futher ado…

Single Review

Sense Music Media was lucky enough to hear an advanced version of Dance With The Devil prior to its official video release just after midnight last night; but after seeing the clip I had to put aside the review I’d previously written and give it a whole new perspective.

The song itself is a fantastic take on heavy groove, exploding off the mark with a rolling wave of distorted guitars and steady drums that set the tone for what the listener is about to hear. The grungy guitars and bass driven verses remind me of QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE who aren’t in a rush. The words sleepy and lazy come to mind when thinking of articulating the way that this song sounds; but not with the negative connotations associated with those words. Rather, these adjectives become powerful descriptions of the much darker elements that were the inspiration behind the song.

As the guitars drop away from the foreground of the song they are replaced by disdainful vocals that accompany a rhythmic and monotonous bass and drums that carry the narrative. Throughout the song, the vocals float above the thumping rhythm, driving bass and soaring guitars to create a sense of riding the wave of encompassing emotion to remain ontop of the storm rather than be consumed by it. The mantra of “running straight to you” which I have since learned to be a metaphor for the devil (depression) are repeated toward a crescendo of drums and guitars that emphasise the words “Don’t need nobody to save me” giving a sense of surrender… or is it control?

The film clip was shot by Daniel Armstrong, who translated the conceptual elements into stunning imagery that adds a whole new layer of meaning to the music. Unsurprisingly, the film clip’s narrative was written by Karly Jewell herself, which explains why it so effectively captures the essence of the song. A dressed up old-style mansion with moving images in picture frames on the wall sets the backdrop for ominous figures wearing masks that surround yet isolate the central character who battles the demons within. The scattered artifacts that appear and disappear in the foreground remind me of the flies expelled from John Coffey’s mouth in Stephen King’s The Green Mile; a representation of purging sickness and evil, which seems fitting. The steely muted colour tones, shifting focus and brilliant shot composition bring the textural elements of the costumes and setting come to life.

The track was mastered by the great Tony Jack Mantz which provides the backbone for an awesome sounding track, doing justice to the great musicianship and song writing which accompany the film clip to create a well produced package.

The Verdict

Dancing With The Devil is a well produced rock staple that’s easy to listen to and sets the stage for a great conceptual piece of art. The iconic vocals of Karly Jewell make for a unique take on a familiar sound. I look forward to hearing what these guys come up with next!