As I check in with one of my favorite indie rockers, Jay Elle to see how his latest album Ride The Wave is being perceived, I am hardly surprised to see the increased traffic surrounding his latest single, “Miss Mess” is attracting. Miss Mess is a clever little piece filled with satire, and perception as Jay Elle describes the subject of his fascination and the personality traits she exhibits. As the song grows in popularity and we begin to have a deeper appreciation for the troubadour nature of Jay Elle’s songwriting form, new and quite significant aspects of this track present themselves. First and foremost, I am still being taken aback by the great tonal quality of Jay Elle’s voice, in particular the beautiful way he fills the room when he opens up his voice during the chorus sections of this track. The emotional and welcoming feel of his voice allows the listener to feel it in their chest as the powerful enunciation of certain passages hits on different frequencies from the musical mix. The gravelly nature of his voice contrasts with the overall beauty he is able to portray.

Even though Miss Mess is an observatory piece throughout the theme of the track, it also delivers a hopeful feel and a positive vibe. Listeners are left feeling like the subject matter, although a real mess, is still a redeeming quality to have in a personality. Listeners to Miss Mess should pay close attention to the way Jay Elle utilizes the song title as a recapitulation as a definitive article to resolve each cadence throughout the verse and chorus. The pronouncement Miss Mess is a satisfying conclusion to the descriptive content which proceeded it. This deliberate and forceful way to end each stanza is an easy way for the singer to say that’s just her, a mess, and we are ok with it. As I continue to consume the album, Ride The Wave, Miss Mess continues to be the track I am attracted to the most, it is a very enjoyable track that really does keep getting better the more I listen to it. And, as this songwriter continues to produce effective narratives like this one, the interest and consumption of this neo-indie folk genre piece will continue to attract new fans.

–Lee Callaghan