This tune kicks off with a simple piano-based melody and then develops into something that resembles a Maroon 5 ballad as Lamar begins crooning, “I found love and it was there all the time.” You get the sense that this guy is a good enough singer that he could even pull the song off without any accompaniment as he hits a few different registers.

This article appears in Jan 21-27, 2015.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.