First Listen: Charlie Jeer's ‘Mona Lisa (Mahalia Version)’ Featuring Mahalia

The Mona Lisa is a revered painting of the Renaissance by Leonardo da Vinci. She captivates and inspires with a subtle smile. You can’t blame that classically trained, multi-talented musician, Charlie Jeer, who is as mesmerised by a woman’s demeanour and beauty that we can’t help but liken the two.

Experimenting with something new, the musician, with his reimagined version of his latest ‘Mona Lisa’, featuring Mahalia, builds on the momentum of his debut EP Everything Is Temporary and the work that came before to solidify his position in the UK Jazz House genre.

The initial reaction

Charlie Jeer is animated and alive. The song emits a pleasant feeling that is appropriate now that the clocks have gone back, and the days have lengthened.

You are led in by a tumble of notes hit on the drums, and kept on course by an understated, steady bass and a smooth acoustic guitar. Upbeat, sensual and seductive, the new version of his track ‘Mona Lisa’ is a dialogue between the pair, as they engage in a spirited and flirtatious back and forth. It is about a deep closeness that is enjoyed, intimately, and comfort which grows from familiarity.

As a vocalist, Charlie adds a soulful element as his tone conveys an honest desire for his love interest, which is mirrored by improvised Saxophone rifts he plays over the top of Latin-inspired jazz. Mahalia complements the track by adding her verse and R&B melodies to it.

Artist perception

For Charlie, the point of the track is an emphasis on what is not said: “Mona Lisa is written about silent connections. For me, the song relates to a specific, unspoken feeling - where getting to know someone becomes unwavering dedication”, Charlie said.

“The song is produced by my good friend Ben Stancombe who also let us use his studio for the official video with Mahalia.

“Mahalia and I instantly became good friends when we met, especially when she got me tickets to an arsenal game… being able to have a female vocal on the song to turn it into a dialogue is something I wanted from the moment it was created and so being able to do it with someone as talented and genuine as Mahalia makes it hold a very special place in my heart”.

 

The Visuals

Speaking about the creative process behind the video, which was directed by Ben Hughes, Charlie said: “Shooting it in the studio where the song was written and I spend a lot of time is a sentiment to the personal connection that I feel to this song.

“The process to filming the video was similar to the process of a lot of what me and my team do - pick up the camera, start filming and see what happens.

“The run and gun style of the video and authentic synergy between everyone in the room is what makes it feel so personal”, he added.

“It's telling in the video how the shots where Mahalia and I are alone seem to present us in our characters contrasted by when we were in the room together and were trying to hold in our smiles and laughter”.

Listen here