One thing that collectively grinds our gears here at SoulBounce is when an artist chooses to cover a song that was already perfection in its original state, and then winds up delivering a cringe-worthy take on a cherished classic. So you can imagine our initial apprehension at learning that Kevin Ross and Kirby Lauryen made the bold decision to remake "Nothing Even Matters," a sensual and entrancing duet by Lauryn Hill and D'Angelo.
Captivating us with a convincingly passionate delivery, smooth harmonies and acrobatic ad-libs, the dreamy ballad from Hill's 1998 magnum opus The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill has certainly stood the test of time. With an infectious bass line, rhythmic finger snaps, twangy guitar chords and dreamy Rhodes, the sublime instrumentals undergirded the duo's flawless vocals and gave added warmth to the arrangement.
Like we said before, the original is perfection. So what makes these two newbies think they can just waltz in here and lay hands on one of our favorite songs? Well, in addition to working with artists like Usher and Trey Songz, Mr. Ross is a talented singer/songwriter who has impressed us in the past with his smooth tone and delicate falsetto. And Ms. Lauryen is a Bounce-Worthy artist with a beautiful, soul-stirring voice to go along with her incredible songwriting skills; she's written for the likes of Beyoncé, Brandy, Kanye West and Rihanna. Here, Kevin and Kirby combine their gifts and deliver a rework that is both satisfying and refreshing. Though they adhere to the original framework, they did make a few tweaks, slightly speeding up the tempo and foregoing major instrumentation for a more acoustic feel. Their voices are a lovely compliment to each other, weaving in and out of the verses with symbiotic fluidity. Quite honestly, we're loving the harmonious results more and more with each listen.
Scroll down to hear Kevin and Kirby's interpretation of "Nothing Even Matters" and let us know what you think. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Instagram as he prepares to release his debut LP The Awakening later this year. In the meantime, you can hear his current single, "Be Great (Intro)" featuring Chaz French, below and listen to more music via his SoundCloud page. As for Kirby, we're hoping to hear more from her very soon, but in the meantime we'll keep stalking her SoundCloud and Instagram pages as well.
