Jeri Silverman - Leaflike

Jeri Silverman

​Leaflike
self-released; 2016

3.9 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

Jeri Silverman is a singer/songwriter originally from South Cape Town, South Africa and now located in New York who recently released Leaflike. The six-song EP has exceptional production value with contemporary sounding aesthetics. Silverman displays atmospheric soundscapes that are backed by well-written songs and her impressive vocal performances.

The EP kicks off with “Anywhere but here” which is a great opener. It starts off sparse with piano and vocals. Other soft elements start to come into mix but her vocals remain in the center. Once the verse kicks in with the percussion I was reminded of Fiona Apple in the way she hits her notes. You can hear every nuance when she climbs a scale with her voice. 

“G & A” is another one for the win column. The culmination of atmospheric pads, synths and more create a very soft, dreamlike atmosphere. I thought the chorus was memorable the first time I heard it. This song is arguably the most single worthy in the batch. “The Fever” is a smooth song that has a slight R&B vibe at points while “Rabbit” contains notable string work and holds back the electronic sounding synths. 

“Dreams” is upbeat, buoyant and extremely catchy. It’s more or less a perfect pop song. Silverman closes with the title track which is delightfully playful. The tones and textures on this track are utterly unique. I enjoyed the percussion, upright bass and xylophone. She delivers another impressive vocal performance. 

​Leaflike is very compact EP, which shoves a vast array of sounds into the songs. It’s a wonderful treat for the ears but at the heart these are pop songs. I expect to be hearing a lot more from Silverman. She has got some chops in every department you need for success.

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