As important as any of the lyrics to his new single “Sensy Girl” are, the beats that adorn every pulsing stitch of rhythm in this hot track courtesy of Gino McKoy and Diamond are perhaps more expressive than they actually need to be, but nevertheless, they’re getting this collaborative pair a lot of attention this January. Originally released as part of the Lumina EP, “Sensy Girl” is a juggernaut of rhythm and rhyme comprised of simplistic melodies and synthetic harmonies as supple as they are textured, and this January, the song is getting a second wind thanks to the fans keeping it in high demand.
TWITTER: https://mobile.twitter.com/ginomckoy
The melody here is steeped more in hip-hop aesthetics than it is pop, but the hybridity of elements doesn’t translate as being overly experimental at all; contrarily, I would say that it adds to the overall uniqueness of the track in general. McKoy does plenty of experimenting throughout the Lumina EP, but in this song in particular, he applies as much attention as he can to the subtle components tying the harmony together, allowing for maximum fluidity without ever sacrificing any of the natural tonality in the track. It’s perfect as a single, and a great way of introducing his sound to us.
Diamond’s rap in the middle of the track really helps to draw the rough edges between the first and second acts in “Sensy Girl” together with a cosmopolitan swing even more potent than that of the drums. It’s a bit more abrasive in style than McKoy’s singing is, but by juxtaposing their depth side by side as they ultimately did in this instance, I think we’re able to get a better handle on just how prolific a pair of vocalists they really are. Conflict creates some of the best fireworks in experimental songs, and that’s exactly what’s happening in this recording.
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/56sQFBKQpTsorRCFgyeu3w?highlight=spotify:track:3gnxdpht9c0jlip97FU6Nm
Although written for a feature film, also titled Lumina, “Sensy Girl” has the look and feel of a standalone track in every way that matters. There’s a club energy to the beats that we’re never able to completely escape from, and beneath the showy cosmetics and old school stylizations of the bass, there’s a ton of emotionality in the lyrics waiting for us to unfurl it. I haven’t heard enough of his work yet to know for certain, but if this is a good indication of what Gino McKoy is going to produce in his career, he’s going to find a lot of success in the 2020s and beyond.
SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/ginomckoy/sensy-girl-featdiamond
Gino McKoy, alongside Diamond, is making a major impact on his scene right now, and with all of the momentum he gathered towards the end of 2019, it’s looking like this year is going to be just as busy as the last was. He’s got a lot of raw potential that still needs to be ironed out in the grander scheme of things, but at the rate he’s working at, he’ll be in championship-contention form a whole heck of a lot sooner than most of his contemporaries will be.
Levi Colston