Introducing: Pocket Queen and the Royal Flush by The Pocket Queen and The Royal Flush | EP Review

The drummer and vocalist extends her sonic repertoire with a live band.

You may have come across The Pocket Queen (AKA PQ) before and not realized it. Known for her viral drumming videos, she’s also played alongside multiple artists including but not limited to WILLOW, Stevie Wonder, Robert Glasper, LL Cool J and Beyoncé. Her latest project, Introducing: The Pocket Queen and the Royal Flush takes the positive and uplifting lyrics from her previous project and expands on them sonically, adding multiple lush instruments and song arrangements with contributions from her live band. Real name Taylor Godron, she handles sung vocals throughout the EP and is accompanied by rappers, singers, and musicians on each track too including PJ Morton, Duckwrth and more.

The best way to describe the music of this project is lush soulful jazz pop. The opening track and first single, “Good Vibes,” sets the stage for an EP filled with lyrics meant to be experienced during the sunny spring days we’re in the midst of. Swelling string arrangements, an undeniably groovy bassline and of course, drumming, come together to create the perfect soundscape for lyrics that celebrate the joy of togetherness. A beat switch breakdown during Duckwrth’s brief but effective rap verse only adds to the track’s dynamic feeling.

“Hope & Love” is the next track and anyone who loves Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On will appreciate the percussion on this one. The lyrics here serve as a call to action for unification throughout the world as The Pocket Queen and PJ Morton sing over cinematic strings and beautiful piano keys. This one fittingly ends with a prayer too.

The track “Play On + So High” is a two parter with the first one continuing the soulful jazz pop feeling established at the beginning of the EP with horns mirroring the melody of the harmonies on the track. Things slow down ever so slightly in part two but the dance based groove continues. And even with all that happening, PQ and The Royal Flush still find time to expand. The track “Freedom” has the energy filled atmosphere of an African music track with passionate vocalizations and ravenous percussion. This track also features trumpet playing from Tatiana Tate who you may know from Doechii’s universally celebrated Tiny Desk Concert.

Appropriately titled final track “The Closer” has a live feeling to it as crowd reactions are heard throughout the track as PQ and vocalist Cory Henry are accompanied by guitars, keys and other instruments. We get another switch up in the groove in the song’s ending moments as another swell of lush strings and keys bring us out the EP.

Introducing: The Pocket Queen and the Royal Flush is an EP for those who enjoy excellently arranged music with uplifting vocals paired with them. One nitpick? The excellent transition from the first to second song on the EP is the only time the technique is used and it would have been amazing to hear that across the entire project. The songwriting is not deeply layered and it doesn’t need to be because the messages are direct and clear. PQ’s drumming and vocal skills are a testament to her multidimensional skill as an artist and her band is just as talented as she is. The song arrangements on every track are excellent as a plethora of instruments come together to create soundscapes filled with life.

Favorite Tracks: Hope & Love, Good Vibes, Freedom

Final Rating: 9/10