Their most recent record,  JUNGLE, is therefore a little bit different. “We were willing to keep the introspective aspect our music carries while keeping in mind that people also come to dance when they’ll see us perform,” the duo shared in a press release. Creating music people can dance to was always the main goal for The Blaze. From the very start they wanted to “ invite people to dance with a kind of human feeling but dance together, left side right side” Guillaume told The New York Times.

Conversations about those “human feelings” are easy to have when talking about The Blaze. Through their music, Guillaume and Jonathan delve into deep emotional topics of human connection, relationships, love, and death. They see these vulnerable conversations as a way to connect with one another as artists and these introspectives reflect in their music in bulk. The duo is also well known for their music videos all of which are intertwined with the narrative of the lyrics and in many ways, are inseparable from it. These videos naturally accompany them on tour, setting the scene and the mood.

For their latest performance in Toronto, The Blaze took hold of the impressive stage at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Set up facing one another center stage Guillaume and Jonathan played a seamless set taking turns singing. The duo curated an elaborate set mixing tracks from across both records, from  “DREAMER” to “EYES” to “QUEENS”. It was a smooth and emotional start but as the show went on the energy picked up with tracks like “CLASH,” “SIREN,” “BLOOM,” and of course, “TERRITORY” which got everyone in the room dancing.

With a clean-cut end, Guillaume and Jonathan ended the show and left the stage. There was no encore.

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JUNGLE opens up with “LULLABY”. The introduction starts off with a vibrant arrangement of keyboard, drum claps, and bass lines. The soft heavenly vocals make for a contrast to the chorus repeating the phrase, “You’re such a fucking mess.” The berceuse feels like the clouds open up and the gods whisper into your consciousness to sort out your life. The second half mostly consists of an instrumental, helping you let go and dance to the beat before the chorus comes back to hit you with a reality check.

The following track, “CLASH,” is another catchy pop song that captures listeners’ imagination. The beginning has an echo that’s off to the distance calling you over. The simplistic chorus alone continuously chanting, “This is the right time”, is a mantra that reinvigorates the soul. It’s a reminder that no matter where you are in life at the moment, right now is our destination. This message is driven further in the album’s single, “DREAMER”. Again there’s this feeling like you’re floating on clouds when a voice rings through,” I’m the soul that is drifting away, trying to find space, trying to find a place with no border to face.” Electronic tribal drums come in to enhance the excitement of celebration of loving life with the phrase “Open the gate of love to make the stars glow”. There’s a short documentary about the music video commentating on the importance of human interaction worth checking out.

Hands down the best track on JUNGLE is “Lonely.” Bouncing synths along with thumping drums, continuing to build up with delayed vocals keep the vibe grooving throughout the progression of the song. The words may be reclusive but the beat is uplifting bringing peace in its solidarity. “SIREN” is a strong continuation of “LONELY” showcasing the more intense, dark side of JUNGLE. Engulfed in sensation as if you’re lost and running through the trees but needing to embrace the unknown.

“EYES” is a solid song that is carried by its instrumentation. The drawn-out, deep-bass vocals sing of loving someone so much that without them you succumb to emptiness. However, once the beat kicks in “EYES” really turns up a notch. A hypnotizing funky beat truly illustrates the heart of a lovely message that you can’t help but shuffle to.

The Blaze’s JUNGLE is a listening experience that has a positive aura surrounding it. The musicianship of both artists collaborating into one cohesive sound is worth hearing. Most of the tracks have a repetitive nature to them with a simple message that you may or not enjoy. However, the overall quality of the songs cannot be denied. Now seeing The Blaze live would definitely be worth experiencing.

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