Though we don't hang on every single Drake release as if it's the second coming of Jesus, we must admit that he always drops a song or two that catches our ear. His recent release More Life is no exception. R&B heads have especially been drawn to the set's third track, "Passionfruit," and its slightly tropical feel. Like "Hotline Bling" before it, the song has inspired its fair share of covers. Today, electro soul maestro Marcus Alan Ward, a favorite here at SoulBounce, joins that number with his own inventive cover of the track, and we're happy to bring you the first listen.
Marcus' take on "Passionfruit" keeps the feel of the original though he updates it considerably. He recreates the melody with synth patches that pick up more on the song's sense of melancholy at a slowed down pace. He also replaces the "tropical house" percussion with programmed drums that evoke the vibes of R&B from the late '80s and '90s. The ambient vibe is tied together by Marcus' vocal. He sings in a sweet falsetto that's just slightly computer distorted, adding a unique feel to a song about love that's so passionate it could never actually last.
"I've been jamming More Life since its release and caught a vibe to cover 'Passionfruit' while I was in Toronto for Canadian Music Week last week," Marcus told us about why he decided to cover the track. "I wanted to envelop the original idea with my psychedelic/electro/ambient sounds and put this out in between working on my new record. Enjoy! New music coming soon."
When Marcus isn't reimagining Drake, he's taking his own show on the road. After recently hitting the stage during Canadian Music Week, he'll be putting on his first headlining show at Columbus, Ohio's Rumba Cafe on May 11th. For more info, head to his website. But before you do that, listen to Marcus Alan Ward bringing his own flavor to "Passionfruit."
