sona blue is an empath led by experiences. From being deeply moved upon studying of the tragic loss of life of Frank Ocean’s brother two years in the past, he turned inwards and was led to mirror on the significance of household in his personal life. “I really feel such as you by no means admire issues till they’re gone,” he feedback. “I wouldn’t know what to do if that occurred to my brother.”
Focussing on a twinkling vista of affection, loss, gratitude, and progress, “gentle prime” emerged, which savours the shut relationship he has along with his youthful brother – a lifetime of highway journeys and collaborative playlists, together with the entire different parts, each joyful and bittersweet, which have made up their shared historical past.
The artist cites Tyler the Creator and Brockhampton amongst his greatest influences, and like them, his introspective, looking out lyrics attain deep into his psyche, reworking ache into renewal. The backdrop of lo-fi R&B and supple digital soundscapes add a cinematic high quality which is well-matched to the coming-of-age tropes being explored right here.
“We’ve all the time been shut and I needed to put in writing about how love in a household scenario differs from that of a romantic one. It’s about rising with somebody whether or not you need to or not and I believe that’s actually particular.”
In actual fact, his sibling is an integral a part of his debut EP saint, as a kind of surrogate id. The EP’s eponymous observe pays tribute to his brother’s resilience within the face of challenges and offers a lens for the artist to mirror on the struggles and evolution of his youthful self. Whereas earlier songs specific remorse for romances which have fallen by the wayside, it appears becoming for the undertaking to conclude by specializing in a extra enduring love, the type that you do not select however is yours to maintain. Whether or not you may agree on which album to play within the automobile is one other matter.
Already, sona blue feels that his sound has modified so much since he first began placing collectively this launch over lockdown, together with producer JoeyEighty. “I really feel like I do know myself now much more than then,” he displays. “Everybody says it’s important to cherish these years, you do not know what you have bought till you have moved on.”
He could also be prepared to maneuver on however within the meantime, “gentle prime” and the bigger undertaking is a sensible and meditative swansong for sona blue: classes realized all through youth, and a deep exhale of breath earlier than he plunges into the following ceremony of passage.
“gentle prime” and the brand new EP saint are out now. Discover sona blue on Instagram.
