When a new artist arrives on the scene, you can usually hear their influences lingering in the background—sometimes too much. But when I pressed play on “All I See” by Jackson Hurst, I wasn’t just introduced to another voice from the R&B/Soul lane; I was invited into a vision. And that’s what makes Hurst stand out immediately.
Raised in the Twin Cities and steeped in the Gospel tradition, Hurst has taken that foundation and crafted something wholly his. He’s not just a singer who found his voice in the church pews; he’s a storyteller who reshapes that history into a contemporary palette of Soul, Funk, Pop, and now the more intimate shades of R&B. His debut single, “So Do I,” hinted at a bold new chapter, but with The Red Project, and especially this track, he proves he isn’t interested in playing within anyone’s expectations. He’s building his canvas.
“All I See” is a sensual, poetic entry point into that world. The theme here is unmistakable: devotion, desire, and the way love can overwhelm your vision until the person you’re drawn to eclipses everything else. Yet what’s striking is how delicately it’s handled. Instead of leaning on grandiose production or overpowering theatrics, Hurst strips the arrangement down to something gentle and purposeful. Mellow beats keep time like a soft heartbeat, while airy keys and subtle guitar tones float around his vocals. There’s restraint in the instrumentation—it doesn’t fight for space, but rather frames his voice like warm light around a portrait.
And then there’s that voice. Jackson Hurst doesn’t just sing; he embodies every phrase. His delivery is smooth yet deeply expressive, carrying a weight of conviction that feels lived-in. You can hear the Gospel influence in his phrasing and control, but here it’s reimagined through the lens of Soul and R&B—less about Sunday morning praise, more about late-night reverie. The warmth of his tone makes the lyrics linger, like a quiet echo of intimacy that stays with you after the song ends.
The performance as a whole is tender and confident. Hurst knows when to lean into the emotion and when to pull back, letting silence and space do their own storytelling. It’s the kind of balance that makes a track timeless rather than trendy.
What excites me most about “All I See” is how it sets the stage for what Hurst is building. If this is just one hue from The Red Project, then we’re in for a spectrum of sound that refuses to be boxed in. From Afro-Caribbean rhythms to funk grooves, and now to this mellow Soul gem, Hurst is proving he can take risks without losing his sense of identity.
So here’s my welcome to Jackson Hurst: not as another name in the crowded world of R&B, but as an artist painting his own mural—layer by layer, color by color. “All I See” isn’t just a song, it’s an invitation. And I, for one, can’t wait to see what shades come next.
Listen to “All I See” on Spotify
Follow Jackson Hurst here for more information
