With “Water” having reached global status, being the first Billboard 100 hit for a South African (soloist) since Hugh Masekela and earning a Grammy nomination, it was only a matter of time before a remix cropped up. Mzansi canary Tyla has released “Water (Remix)” with Houston-born rapper and singer-songwriter Travis Scott.
There aren’t any major alterations on the “Water” remix besides the veil-thin harmonies of Scott layered on top of the dead space of the production at the inception of the song and other parts throughout the three minutes. The introduction is subtle enough for the ear to know there’s another contrasting voice in the mix; however, the stop-start arrangement does affect the flowing momentum that the original record begins with, giving it a glitchy texture. All things considered, it doesn’t taint the song – it only creates a slightly jarring whiplash, like a car stalling now and again before a smooth takeoff. It’s not enough to make one forsake the ride altogether.
Cactus Jack is a rapper who understands the art of bending melodies while still maintaining coolness in the execution of cadence, flow, and content. This intelligence is apparent in his portion of the song, with his feature being a chunky verse chiselled into a shape restrained enough to sit neatly over the tropical beat without suffocating it with needless rap theatrics. For the most part, his bars are surface-level and easy to understand, keeping in step with the sensual theme of the song but without the innocence Tyla portrays. His overt approach and how he externalises sexual attraction create a musical chiaroscuro, with him being the masculine shade and the foil to Tyla’s feminine nature.
“Water” still stands majestic all by itself. The addition of Travis doesn’t necessarily breathe new life into it because there never was a point where the song died. His melodic shadow, however, is a curious aspect of the remix, and his presence is enough to take the track to a reimagined realm without compromising the single’s endearing charm to which it owes its success.
