qanda
floe
Self-released

On his first outing as qanda, musician Jordi Baizan expands on some of the songs he played with Houston band The Tiles. The five songs that make up his debut solo effort mostly follow the same, well-worn radio-friendly path as John Mayer, but thankfully Baizan doesn’t rely on the same level of hokey sappiness. While love and loss are the major themes of floe, qanda (pronounced “cue and a”) keeps it upbeat and heartfelt without being overwrought. Although Baizan tends to wear his heart on his sleeve (examples: “Your heart has given me more than I could ever give you,” “This girl is the perfume interfering with my concentration / This girl is the drug that won’t let me go”), his sincerity and reserve make for a palatable mix.

The EP encompasses barroom rock (“This Girl”), radio pop balladry (“Give You,” “Phoebe’s Song”), and 60’s-influenced pop (the overdose-themed “Here For You”), and Baizan’s soulful vocals coupled with solid backing musicians keep the songs light and lively. It’s obvious that qanda is aiming for the mainstream but his mostly low-key method keeps it honest.

Visit qanda on MySpace.