Up and coming Pop artist JoZie’s second single, “Perfect Enough,” is an anthem for self-acceptance. Penned by her writers Thornton Cline and Lacie Carpenter and expertly performed by JoZie, “Perfect Enough” reminds listeners that who they are is enough. JoZie moved to Music City when she was 18, in two years she has earned a record deal and had her debut single “My Lucky Song” hit number one on the World Indie Music Top 100 charts. JoZie’s musical aspirations began aged 8, when her father gave her a karaoke machine, that’s when she fell in love with music. After that she took piano and voice lessons until music and lyrics seemed to flow out of her with ease. JoZie and her team are working on her upcoming EP, in the meantime, “Perfect Enough” is here to remind fans to embrace themselves.
One of my favorite aspects of “Perfect Enough” is that it reminds me of pop songs from the early aughts. Its the perfect blend of what makes pop so iconic and modern day electronic beats. The confidence is there, so is the catchy melody but JoZie makes “Perfect Enough” all her own by celebrating strength. JoZie is calling out the social pressure to adhere to unrealistic beauty standards. She says it all by opening “Perfect Enough” with, “Don’t need to be a cover girl, with all the right looks and curves.” While JoZie sings about the power of timeless beauty she also emphasizes the value of knowing your strength in the face of a world that values beauty more. One of my favorite lyrics is when JoZie says, “She’s got all the qualities/No need for apologies/Imperfections cloud her reflections/Of all the beauty she can’t see.”
Its so impressive to see a young pop singer who is encouraging her audience to embrace themselves as they are. To remember that even when we can’t see our own beauty, its still there. This is the type of song that you could put on at any point in your life and anywhere in your life. I couldn’t help but think about how universal “Perfect Enough” is the more I listened to it. This is a song I could throw on in the car if I needed a boost, if I was getting ready for a night out, or if I was feeling low. JoZie and her team have produced a timeless song that promises to be a classic. There’s something so contagious about its production that makes you want to be kind to yourself. Its rare to leave any song with the intent to be a friend to yourself rather than an enemy but “Perfect Enough” does it.
Although this is only JoZie’s second single its overall tone is very different from her debut single, “My Lucky Song.” The variation between the two has my interest piqued, what direction will she take her EP? Edgy? Dancy? Somewhere inbetween? I certainly can’t wait to see. JoZie proves herself artistically with “Perfect Enough,” showing that she not only has an incredible voice but is also creatively open and explorative. There are a few moments in “Perfect Enough” where JoZie speaks some of the lyrics, which reminded me of Born To Die era Lana Del Rey. JoZie doesn’t fall flat during those speaking bits, if anything, her confidence and attitude are elevated. This is an exciting jumping off point for JoZie and her team who don’t shy away from socially conscious topics.
“Perfect Enough” proves that you can put a modern spin on a classic sound that so many of us associate with a bygone era. Pop giants like Mariah Carey, Rihanna, and Kelly Clarkson all made pop what it is today with their distinct voices and styles of music. When you listen to them and the pop of today, there’s a disconnect. Nothing feels quite like the music they were putting out but “Perfect Enough” does. It seems to bridge the gap between the past and the present, effortlessly. While you’re anxiously awaiting JoZie’s EP, listen to “Perfect Enough.”
Jodi Marxbury