Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Music Review


Gawvi, We Belong
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Gawvi
We Belong



Genre(s): Dance
Album length: 14 tracks: 53 minutes, 7 seconds
Street Date: March 31, 2017


READER RATING:   


For nearly ten years, fans of Reach Records have known the Bronx-born Gawvi by his signature producer tag and undeniably tight beats. After a long period of working for Reach as a staff producer, he was officially signed to Reach in January 2016, in hopes of pursuing his own musical direction in pop and dance music. After producing songs for over thirty different albums and creating two solo EPs, he is finally releasing his debut solo album, We Belong.

The album starts off with a collaboration with ELHAE, called "Rock N Roll." The song is decent, but it doesn't quite set the mood properly for the album and is quickly overshadowed by the following track, "Godspeed," which features a banging dubstep-influenced beat and solid verses from labelmates Andy Mineo and KB. "Godspeed" introduces some of the best songs the album has to offer, continuing with "Like We Belong." This track is certainly one of the best things that Gawvi has ever created, with an extremely danceable beat, excellent lyrics, and vocals from Jonathan Thulin. "Show Me," which features a guitar and horns, and "Never Fails" are also fun songs, with worshipful themes and lyrics.

Although We Belong is largely a fast-paced dance pop project, it has its slower, more contemplative moments. We see Gawvi orchestrate the first of these in "Giana," a song for his one-year-old daughter. If a track like this is executed poorly, it can just feel like someone singing about a hypothetical loved one, but Gawvi makes "Giana" a moving song because you can truly feel his love for his daughter through his passionate lyrics. And while some songs of this type feel out of place in a more up-tempo album, "Giana" perfectly balances emotion with energy, making it an album highlight.

The tempo picks back up in "The Sickness" as Gawvi once again hands the mic to another artist, this time, Jordan Powers, who complements the intense beatwork quite well. "Closer" follows up well with a piano intro and an infectious synth line. It's the only song on the album besides "Godspeed" that features two artists, and Robbie Lee and Julia Leilani work well together to make the song not only a fun song but a moment of worship.

A couple tracks later, we find another album highlight in "En La Calle," a fusion of Latin pop and dubstep that's a good listen, whether you're a Spanish speaker or not. More dance staples follow in "Feel It" and "Something About U." On "Cumbia," New York-born rapper Wordsplayed adds his usual fun and casual style to Gawvi's great beat, which features an accordion, of all instruments. It also features a subtle nod to the Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez ("Selena would have loved this"). Interestingly, We Belong's release coincides directly with the twenty-second anniversary of Selena's infamous murder. It seems fitting that Gawvi and Wordsplayed, two artists influenced by Latin and Tejano pop music, would include such a tribute to one of the genre's legends.

The album closes with "Hold On," which is the song on the album that's the most directly worshipful, mentioning the name of Jesus and featuring some great lyrics about the love of God. With a runtime of 6:09, it begins to drag a little near the end, but it still finishes the album decently enough.

As of yet, dance and EDM have not been at the forefront of Christian music, aside from success by Owl City and Capital Kings. Gawvi, by extending Reach Records' influence into pop, has brought a large group of people (Christian and non-Christian) fun and meaningful music. This album has its flaws, to be sure; some of the songs are a tad repetitive and not every song features a great deal of lyrical depth. But the fact is, it's a dance album at its core, and for that, it works perfectly, rivaling the best of Christian and secular alike. If this is what we are to expect from Gawvi from here on out, then I say "Gawvi, get 'em," indeed.

- Review date: 3/30/17, written by Lawson Pace of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: Reach Records
. Album length: 14 tracks: 53 minutes, 7 seconds
. Street Date: March 31, 2017
. Buy It: iTunes
. Buy It: Amazon Music (MP3)

  1. Rock n Roll (feat. ELHAE) (3:55)
  2. God Speed (feat. Andy Mineo & KB) (2:57)
  3. Like We Belong (4:05)
  4. Show Me (3:23)
  5. Never Fails (3:42)
  6. Giana (3:48)
  7. The Sickness (feat. Jordan Powers) (4:05)
  8. Closer (feat. Robbie Lee & Julissa Leilani) (4:02)
  9. Steady (feat. Zach Norman) (3:41)
  10. En La Calle (2:40)
  11. Feel it (feat. Jocelyn Bowman) (3:33)
  12. Cumbia (feat. Wordsplayed) (3:20)
  13. Something Bout U (feat. Jawan) (3:47)
  14. Hold On (feat. Sydney Wilson) (6:09)

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
ELI GABLE Glory Bound - Single [Capitol CMG]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Claire Leslie Thank God I'm Not Alone (from Claire's Phone) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Tommy Royale, gio. Like Dat - Single [Capitol CMG]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images