DJ Tunez, Tay Iwar, Mannywellz and Kemuel Find Romance in the “Simple Things”
There is a kind of love song that makes you want to call somebody over nothing. Maybe tell them you miss them. Maybe ask when you’re seeing them again.
“Simple Things” is that kind of song.
DJ Tunez brings together Tay Iwar, Mannywellz and Kemuel for a lovely, slow-burning Afro-R&B record about being in love with somebody and, more importantly, enjoying the experience of being loved back. The song is full of affection, but it never gets carried away with itself. It is happy to sit with the little things: a familiar embrace, an honest partner, the comfort of knowing someone well enough to imagine spending your life with them.
And the combination of voices is rather lovely.
Tay Iwar and Kemuel Set the Mood
The first thing that gets you is the chorus. Kemuel and Tay Iwar circle around the phrase “I love the way you hold me, baby”.
DJ Tunez gives them a soft, atmospheric instrumental to work with, and the arrangement allows the vocals to do most of the talking. The harmonies settle into the production, the repeated “oh, oh, oh” carries the melody forward, and the whole thing has the sort of warmth that makes you want to leave it playing.
Tay Iwar is particularly comfortable in this setting. His voice has that familiar softness, and he brings a certain intimacy to the first verse as he sings about a woman who has been honest with him from the beginning. He talks about falling in love with her all over again, even after getting to know her. That little detail is lovely. There is something reassuring about a relationship where familiarity hasn’t made affection boring.
Mannywellz Has a Future in Mind
Mannywellz takes the second verse, and his contribution gives the song another dimension.
He sings about looking into his partner’s eyes and feeling like he can take on the world. He sees a future in her, but what makes the verse interesting is the attention he pays to her personality. He admires her quietness, her confidence and the fact that she doesn’t have to work particularly hard to be herself around him.
It’s a sweet moment, especially because so many love songs spend their time describing what somebody looks like. Mannywellz is more interested in how this woman makes him feel. There’s a difference.
Kemuel returns for the third verse with a thought that feels familiar to anyone who has ever wanted a good thing to last. People change, he sings, but he hopes they can hold on to what they have. It is a small admission, but it gives the song a little vulnerability. Being happy with somebody doesn’t mean you never worry about losing them.
“Simple Things” Is a Lovely Reminder of What We Want
The title tells you almost everything you need to know. These men are singing about the kind of affection that can be easy to overlook when you’re busy looking for the grand romantic gesture. Being held. Being listened to. Having somebody who makes an ordinary evening feel like somewhere you want to stay.
DJ Tunez has brought together three voices that understand this kind of music, and they work well together. Tay Iwar’s softness, Mannywellz’s warmth and Kemuel’s melodic presence give the record enough variation to keep it interesting without disturbing its mood.
“Simple Things” is a beautiful little love song. The sort you put on when you’re in a good mood, then find yourself playing again because, well, you’re thinking about somebody.
