Christopher Watson has a lot going for him in the new single “Truth Is,” but all of it starts with his voice. His flow when he’s rapping is as smooth as velvet and definitely feels unforced – particularly compared to some of the other alternative content I’ve been reviewing the past couple of months – while his melodic parts are full of a heartfelt sting that gives me chills whenever I encounter it. He’s a multidimensional player for sure, and in “Truth Is,” his talents are on full display for the world to both enjoy and perhaps learn from.

Official Website: https://tellemwatson.com/music/

The chorus here has an exceptionally eclectic feel, but I love the lush surrealism this element of the track imparts to the lyrical narrative – as well as the mood of the music overall. There’s a timelessness to the way in which the instrumentation unfolds like it’s being sampled directly off of an old vinyl record, and never does it feel or sound as though we’re listening to something merely stylized for hipsters as opposed to bearing a true vintage quality. Watson is all about detail in this performance, and I don’t think you need to do much more than hear the song all the way through to notice this.

The music video for “Truth Is” is nothing short of enrapturing in its homespun style, and I think that a big part of the reason why I found it so appealing is because of how well it couples the humble with the highbrow inside of a single image. There’s something peaceful and humanizing about the romantic undertow we find here that only grows more endearing as it’s juxtaposed with the more melodic moments in the song, and when everything is said and done it’s impossible to consume this material without getting a sense of intimacy out of its most soulful attributes.

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/truth-is-single/1536458133

I know he’s been doing as much for the last two years on a consistent basis, but once more Christopher Watson delivers an uncompromisingly personal and deep-feeling track in the new single “Truth Is” and its music video that I think college radio fans and R&B enthusiasts the same are going to rave over well into the start of 2021. His is by far one of the most provocative vocal-driven performances I’ve had the chance to catch up with since the start of December, but even if this had come at the start of the year as opposed to the end, I think it would have been a memorable entry from 2020 at any rate.

John McCall