Hailing from Perth, Australia, Corban Chapple spent most of his days building sonic worlds for other artists as a producer. It wasn’t until his single “Ordinary World” dropped in 2023 and he began to fully tap into his potential as a solo artist. Considering that this EP was a creation made while pursuing a master’s degree at BerkleeNYC, there are many moments of accolade in “Maybe We’ll Make It.”
In the first track, “Greener”, audiences are met with Chapple’s earnest voice atop a somber piano arrangement. The vocal production is very up to my standards, considering the amount of vocal layering and jazz-infused harmonies that occur throughout this EP, not just this track. Vocal doubling and layering with various harmonies are sure-fire techniques to bring in a wider stereo field when dealing with a minimal arrangement, in which he does flawlessly. I would give his vocal quality and production a 4.5 out 5. Chapple has found an ultimate sweet spot for R&B fans through his vocal arrangement and intentional mixing.
Up next, is “Let’s Just Not Talk About It.”
This track brings in a more upbeat cadence compared to the first track. Although, Chapple is much more avoidant with whoever he is dealing with, rather than the feelings of denial found “Greener.” It’s filled with experimentation (mixing-wise) and the playful back and forth found in these conversational lyrics. I’m not sure how I feel about the abrupt synth “plucks” but it’s not *too* distracting under the song. I could imagine myself dancing to this song with friends on a dance floor due to the instinctual bopping of my head, especially as the drums continue to pick up through his vocal repetition. Personally, my favorite part of the song is when Chapple goes into falsetto mode during the verse where he is recounting what his female counterpart would say to him. The electric guitar played by Andrew Riezebeek comes in beautifully towards the end of the song as well. This song has Musiq Soulchild and Mac Ayres written all over it.
The climax of the EP “Maybe We’ll Make It” is shown through the song “Braid.” Upon my first listen, this song stood out to me sonically. Although, the more I listen to it, my favorite track seems to change each time. I think that’s a testimony towards the project’s cohesiveness and musicality. There’s not one “breakout” song or “one hit wonder” but a genuine story to be told that is rooted in its relatability. In this particular track, Chapple takes the time to slow down the EP yet again, this time with a steady groove. This song shines with its solid production, hints of nostalgia and intimacy, and silky runs especially at the lyric “intertwine.”
The second to last song is titled “Porcelain” which features a collaboration with August “Igor” Egholm. Igor starts off the song strong with his energetic lyricism and surprisingly manages to fit the tone of the song pretty well. There are moments where rappers don’t follow the essence of the singer. But in this song, I was pleasantly surprised. The melodic compositions written by Chapple stands out to me as well. His catchy vocals float above the beat especially during: “I’ve been keeping busy / Not up to much / I haven’t even got to see the city / Did you say we’re breaking up?”
The sudden beat change at 2:15 is mesmerizing alongside the unique choices of sound design and heavenly vocals layered to create a moment of realization. “It’s never over” feels like the first true honest piece of Chapple’s feelings towards this situation. He is no longer in a state of denial or avoidance and realizes that the feelings they once had for each other are as fragile as their state of mind.
The last and final track is “Maybe We’ll Make It.” The more Chapple tries to run away from his feelings, the more weight he is carrying on his shoulders. “Those hand me down troubles / The ones from my mother / She said you’re filling out the shoulders as you get older”
He realises that it’s all a temporary fix. If there’s nothing substantial for him to turn his energy to, he remains in the same place as he was before. “Running aint running with nowhere to go / I see the light but that don’t make it close / Living aint living, just give up the ghost / Maybe we’ll make it?”
This track is so euphoric at the end of the EP despite the lack of total resolution. But that’s part of life, accepting the present moment for what it is and allowing the moments of hurt to pass by, slowly but surely. His production choices and artistry shine through all of these tracks with intention, and are reflected in the gradual building of his vulnerability and truth. Chapple is a triple threat musically, in terms of his production, vocal quality, and storytelling and is definitely someone to keep an eye on in the R&B world.
“Maybe We’ll Make It” is Corban Chapple’s debut EP available now on streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. Listen now to see for yourself.