For an artist who has spent years crafting award-winning jazz and soul compositions with meticulous care, d’Z sounds completely at ease on “Hello World.” The Arnhem-based musician has built a reputation for pairing songs with exactly the right voices, and this time he strikes gold with vocalist Jared Grant and collaborator Kjell Jacobson. Released after sitting in d’Z’s vault for nearly three decades, the single feels surprisingly fresh with a warm, groove-heavy anthem that pushes optimism.
From the jump, the track locks into a rich jazz-funk groove. A rumbling bassline pulses underneath crisp drums while horns burst through the arrangement with silkiness. The rhythm section rolls and bounces with an effortless cool that recalls the golden glow of Jamiroquai and Incognito. d’Z blends classic soul textures with polished contemporary production, creating something smooth enough for late-night listening but lively enough to make you move.
Jared Grant absolutely owns the spotlight here. His charismatic, slightly husky voice carries both conviction and warmth as he glides across the groove with soulful ease. Soothingly, he sings, “I believe in love / I believe in light,” with the backing vocals rising behind him beautifully, adding lift and emotional depth without overwhelming the track’s tight musicianship.
One of the most impressive things about “Hello World” is its commitment to organic sound. Every instrument is played by actual musicians, and you can feel it in the song’s texture. The horns breathe, the drums swing naturally, and the groove has a looseness that computer-perfect production rarely captures anymore. Recorded at Studio Edgetip in the Netherlands, the track radiates the joy of experienced musicians feeding off one another in real time.
After thirty years of waiting, “Hello World” finally arrives sounding exactly where it belongs — hopeful, soulful, and impossible not to groove along with.
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Review by: Naomi Joan