In today’s age, technology has flooded our lives with content. Caught in the mire are modern musicians who champion an art form that’s more widely distributed than any other throughout human history. And we, more often than not, overlook the music created by unfamiliar faces because it’s challenging. We’d rather have an easy listen, a known quantity to skim through while we think about something else.
Hearing is easy, but listening is difficult. Welcome to “Why We Like It”, where we rebuke the trends in favor of thoughtful analysis and underknown sounds.
“Living the Life” Ft. Jennifair — Artist
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How We Found It
From the South side of Chicago to our SubmitHub inbox, Jennifer “Jennifair” Fair (the perfect name) brings us “Living the Life.” Featuring her long-time friend and producer, Drum Mage (also what a great name), the track blends gentle R&B sensibilities with the rhythm and punch of bars.
Why We Like It
On any ordinary day, if you asked me what it meant to be “living the life” I’d probably tell you almost without pause about visions of grandeur — money, cars, clothes, bottles, girls, and probably not in that order. So when Jennifair starts rapping about living the life, I’m ready to leave my ordinary day behind and get lost in a fantasy of the yet unobtained. Expecting a celebration of things I didn’t have, I instead found a way to celebrate the things I do.
“Living the Life” cruises right into Jennifair’s verse on simple keys that open into the melody like a summer night lit by torches and fireflies. As an R&B singer with a knack for spitting a verse every now and then, she raps melodically. She flows dynamically through the first verse painting a light-hearted image of the simple things she enjoys in life. The references aren’t quite celebrations, but more so a recognition. As if cupping the small pleasures in your hands and treasuring them for a moment before moving onto the next one. She’s catching fireflies for the soul.
Baby don’t look back on it, we done come too far from it (came too far from it) / I’ve been loving myself, been telling myself, I got a good thing coming (keep shining black girl) / They don’t know the first half, not even the good half / People gone talk and I know I’ll get a good laugh” – Jennifair, “Living the Life” (2020)
After a refreshing chorus from Drum Mage, the second verse shines a light on the details by zooming out on the picture. In the context of hard times had, even on the come-up it’s difficult to stop and appreciate an individual moment. She’s already come far from some difficult points in her life but she’s still not quite reached the challenges’ recompense. While I pictured living the life as the rewards of the final destination and yearned for things I didn’t have, she was already kicked back in the middle ground observing a more honest enjoyment.
The song left me reflecting on the smaller moments in front of me, rather than the conjured grandeur of the ones ahead of me. Sitting on the back porch with my laptop on a cool evening listening to “Living the Life,” it’s ironic that I had to close my eyes to first see the beauty in my immediate surroundings. I’m writing about music in a safe home and cultivating lasting relationships with people who care about me. If you asked me today what it meant to be “living the life,” I’d tell you I’m already living it.
From Jennifair
I try to [live my best life] by appreciating the time I have while I’m here. I always say it could be a lot worse. This year hasn’t been great for many but I’m still here. I’m still breathing. I have to be thankful for these in between moments because I’ve learned so much. It’s just a constant reminder I try to have to myself, privately. Just telling myself to be proud and happy about where I am currently. I spend a lot of time working on my craft. I spend a lot of time reading also. Best practice is to try and do something I love to do every day that I can. I also try to make sure I’m surrounded by people I love. To me, if you’re happy, at peace, thankful and grateful for the life you live, you are living your best life.” – Jennifair for CentralSauce (2020)
More From Jennifair
“Living the Life” is just one song off Jennifair’s new album, Cabin Fever 2. Check out the project for more and follow her on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with new music.
More to Discover
Subscribe to the CentralSauce mailing list so you never miss out on the freshest sauce. Check out this continuously updated playlist of songs Brandon has added to our Discovery section! Each track or artist has been featured in our “Why We Like It” section, so be sure to check out the page here on the site.
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