VoiceMail is the story of Henry’s first love told against the backdrop of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns. Written alongside fellow songwriter and producer Tom Phelps, they’ve combined to form a project that uses modern electronic dominant production alongside Henry’s more retro and old-school vocals. It’s an EP that wears its heart on its sleeves, filled with tracks that are emotive and passionately so.
The opening track ‘Eight O’Clock’ sounds like a modern indie pop tune, with a spacious and atmospheric production that gives it a euphoric feel. On the very next track, Henry’s vocals take a very different path. ‘Slow Down’ is much more mellow piece that even has elements of jazz in it. There’s a bit of Sinatra in Henry’s performance here. The guitar here, a pained and emotive electric reminiscent of a hard rock ballad somehow expertly compliments the more neo-soul production style and vocal performance.
And then on ‘Do The Same’, Henry completely dives into an emotional soft rock/pop ballad that is unapologetically soppy. On this track, the production starts minimal but grows increasingly more grandiose as the song progresses. It builds, and builds, and builds more till it hits a crashing crescendo while never once bringing a percussive elements. The string work alongside the piano on this piece really make it powerfully majestic. Once again, you’d struggle to imagine that this is the same Henry from the previous tracks. ‘If I Die Tomorrow’ is similar to its predecessor, but relies on acoustic strumming to give it a different kind of ballad feel.
The album kind of comes full circle on Goodbye, a minimal and stripped back piece that lets Henry’s vocals overpower the very faint acoustic guitar strumming behind him. Each track also has clips and snippets of voicemails, giving the album its theme.
Fans of soft rock have a lot to love from VoiceMail. The arrangement and production of each track is holistic, progressive, and relatable. It’s also never slightly monotonous, witch each piece being surprisingly different, but thematically constant, with one another. As far as seventeen year old singer-songwriters go, you’re not going to find many more talented or enjoyable than Henry Dukes.