I really hope Fivio Foreign sticks with this sound.

I haven’t always associated Fivio Foreign with brilliant decisions, but this move toward gospel deserves some credit. The music sounds natural, meaningful, and different without stripping away his personality. “You Make Me,” his latest collaboration with Fire Choir, keeps that winning streak going for me.

The production reworks elements of Monica’s “Gone,” adding enough action to keep Fivio comfortable. He uses that backdrop to discuss putting down the alcohol, waiting for marriage before getting busy, and resisting other devilish temptations. That’s a pretty significant lifestyle update.

Thankfully, he doesn’t deliver those messages like somebody reading a church bulletin. His gritty, sly approach still has the swagger I associate with his older music. Fire Choir complements that edge with some much-needed soul and divine energy, making the contrast one of the track’s strongest qualities.

I think Fivio has found a direction worth sticking with. He can talk about changing his life without sounding like a completely different artist. “You Make Me” gets that balance right, and I’m rocking with it.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.