photo courtesy of Kelsey Blackstone’s management

Single Review of Jason LaPierre & Kelsey Blackstone: “When I’m With You”

Soulful pop vocalist Kelsey Blackstone and jazz-trained guitarist Jason LaPierre team up to deliver “When I’m With You,” a memorably catchy, timeless single that harkens back to the jazz-infused pop hits of the seventies. At first listen, I immediately thought – stylistically – of Little River Band’s “Reminiscing.” Of course, the differences are obvious. “When I’m With You” sports a rich, modern sound bed, for example, and you’ll find soaring background vocal howls, via studio magic, in place of some of those seventies harmonies. Beginning to end, Kelsey’s voice features a smooth soulfulness that rounds the edges of this lively song, but do keep an ear out for the hint of a growl where appropriate.

image courtesy of Kelsey Blackstone’s management

This tune will have a place on my permanent personal playlist, and if you give it a listen, it’ll probably find a spot on yours, too. While you are likely to find “When I’m With You” on several year-end “song of the year” lists this year, the accompanying cool, playful music video has, at least, landed “When I’m With You” a 2023 New England Music Awards “Video of the Year” nomination. (Voting ended on October 1st; we’ll learn how Jason and Kelsey fared when the results are announced in November.)

photo courtesy of Kelsey Blackstone’s management

Looking Ahead

Of course, the results of NEMA “Video of the Year” voting will be announced on November 12th at the New England Music Awards ceremony/concert in Foxboro.

Also, Jason and Kelsey each have linktrees (Jason’s here and Kelsey’s here) to direct you to their social media accounts and help you stay current with their release and performance schedules. Per Kelsey’s Bandsintown listing, you can catch her October 12th at the Rockwood Music Hall in Boston, October 19th at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, and October 28th at the Midway Cafe in Boston. I don’t see any live performances listed anywhere for Jason, but his Spotify artist page does show he has collaborated on three more singles since the spring release of “When I’m With You,” so he has been keeping busy.