New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

Makin Waves Record of the Week: "Velvet Noir /// Stripped" by Blaise & David Ross Lawn


By Bob Makin

originally published: 11/05/2020


David Ross Lawn, left, and Blaise, right, have made one of the best Jersey records of the year with their “Velvet Noir /// Stripped” reimagining of the latter’s 2018 sophomore LP. PHOTO BY NICK KIEFER

I honestly don't know how they did it other than being incredibly talented, but Blaise and David Ross Lawn have improved upon a portion of the former's 2018 sophomore LP, "Velvet Noir," with heartbreaking emotional weight and pinpoint piano excellence. Their rawly produced collaboration, “Velvet Noir /// Stripped,” takes six of the album's tracks and, living up to the title, strips them to just Blaise's Bowiesque croon accompanied by David on piano with performances and arrangements that add to his reputation as one of New Jersey's finest musical artists.   

Like all the songs on the EP, the opening “Kevlar” strips away the studio effects of the original album, chiseling the raw emotion of Blaise’s lyrics, his more plaintive vocal, and David’s gorgeous piano playing and densely dark and superbly sparse arrangement.

Like a 21st century Sinatra accompanied by a modern-day Bill Miller, the pair ooze sensuality on the echoing chamber-tinged inversion of “Catch Me If You Can,” essentially an EDM track originally. You no longer will be able to dance it, but my oh my will it stick to your spirit like a soul bullet. As Sinatra did with Miller, Blaise’s voice marvelously glides along the intricate arrangement like the rocks in Old Blue Eyes’ whiskey. David also adds to the emotion with a beautiful harmony vocal in the chorus.

Dedicated to all the boys and all the girls who have broken Blaise’s heart, the bluesy cascade of “Mr. Terrible” is the most rockin’ of the six tracks with an especially soulful vocal performance that proves Blaise is as good a singer as he is a showman.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



David then mines the moodiness of “Let’s Never Meet,” while Blaise’s breathy vocal enhances its exoticism. Together, they turn a dance stab at emo into a Billie Holiday-like torch song.

The subtlety of David’s touch ironically next shines a bright spotlight on the strength of Blaise’s lyrics throughout “Out Loud,” as does a perfectly weary vocal that beautifully and soulfully builds into an explosive harmony, while “Trust the Fall” serves as a fitting close about love and hope in a time of widespread despair and disparity

I love this EP, and I adore the artists who made it. I hope they continue to work together because the world will be a better, more creatively enriched place if they do. And God knows we could use that.

A sequel featuring other “Velvet Noir” tracks would be great, but a songwriting collaboration of new music would be even better. And they should maintain the raw production quality because it heightens the inspiringly heartfelt and touchingly genuine emotion.

 

 




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



Bob Makin is a reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK and the former managing editor of The Aquarian Weekly, which launched this column in 1988. Contact him via email and like Makin Waves on Facebook.



New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.


FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Blues

Blues People with Special Guest: Jeff Levine

Saturday, July 05, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

Straight

Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90’s Part 2

Tuesday, July 08, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

Frisson

Frisson Winds

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

Three

Three American Troubadours: A Tribute to James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Carole King

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Axelrod Performing Arts Center
100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, NJ 07723
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

Candlelight

Candlelight Concert: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

More events

Event Listings are available for $10 and included with our banner ad packages




 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Jazz

Jazz Concert at Trenton City Museum will Feature the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience

(TRENTON, NJ) -- Trenton City Museum will present a free jazz concert Friday, July 18, 2025 at the museum's Ellarslie Mansion in Cadwalader Park. Featuring world-renowned vibraphonist Joe Baione, the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience is the first group to perform in a series of jazz events leading up to the museum's 2026 TRENTON MAKES JAZZ exhibition, in collaboration with the City of Trenton.



The

The Newton Theatre presents Tonight's the Night - a tribute to Rod Stewart

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Tonight's the Night - a tribute band that celebrates the music of Rod Stewart - will perform at The Newton Theatre on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 8:00pm.



Hoboken's

Hoboken's Sinatra Park to Host Concert by Freedy Johnson and Karyn Kuhl and the Gang

(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Local events organizer, Geri Fallo, who retired last year, is inviting you to celebrate with her, as she embraces new and exciting endeavors. Come enjoy a free evening of music in Hoboken's Sinatra Park (525 Sinatra Drive) on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The evening is presented by Mayor Ravi Bhalla, The Hoboken Division of Cultural Affairs, and Geri Fallo. The event is free, and music starts at 6:30pm. Come early for the best seating.



An

An Interview with Dan Kurtz of The New Deal

Formed in 1999, Toronto, Canada based trio The New Deal, is a pioneer in jam-based electronic music. The group was founded by remaining members Dan Kurtz (bass) and Jamie Shields (keys), along with Darren Shearer (drums) who left tND in 2011. Since its inception, tND has remained committed to its improvisational roots and has served as a model for other jamtronica bands bridging the gap between multiple music genres as well as the border between Canada and the United States.



Two

Two NJ Jazz Musicians Will Play with The Jazz Ambassadors in Morristown

Pianist Anthony Pocetti grew up in Hamilton, NJ, studying piano, "doing sort of traditional piano lessons. I have an uncle who was always encouraging me to get into the jazz thing. He gave me the (Miles Davis) Kind of Blue CD, and he knew that the jazz pianist Jim Ridl was living in Hamilton."