Imaginative compositions tinged with shiny, high-pitched vocals and explosions of playful production.
Read my track-by-track breakdown and learn about the artist to watch, vlush, below.
Track-By-Track Breakdown
1. vlush – “Byof”
This one stopped me in my tracks 12 seconds in. Bright, pristine vocals prompt short, deliberate presses of synth until the track unfolds into a blissful R&B beat. The song begins with a pulsing truck-like horn that persists throughout the track, creating uneasy moments amidst the bliss.
2. Tierra Whack – “Peppers and Onions”
Whack’s whistling and tongue clicks add a peculiar depth to the percussion. Her extensive range of animated vocal color shines yet again on this track, energizing anyone singing along.
3. Remi Wolf – “Down the Line”
A versatile track like this proves there’s no one quite like Remi Wolf. Her brilliant tone remains infectious above savvy bass lines and playful sounds (dog barks, baby cries, and more!) in this fresh funk masterpiece.
4. ASL – “Elevate”
Just the melody and guitar alone crafts a perfect soul bop, but the background elements elevate it. A 2007-esque cell phone rings throughout the track, while two deadpan vocal phrases from the intro visit to add playful personality.
5. Djo – “Keep Your Head Up”
Elastic synthesizers lead while lovely falsetto vocals ride along. Halfway through the track, spooky chords and saxophone kick in––taking the listener on a rich detour for the end of the track.
6. Serena Isioma – ”Sensitive”
Serena Isioma’s voice reminds me of vlush’s pristine vocals, but with more soul and an effortless ability to slide. Production-wise it’s a perfect laid-back funk song, that feels modern with lyrics and delivery full of swagger.
7. Oklou – “SGSY”
This makes for a great closer. It has the foundational elements I noticed in the previous tracks, but they are beautifully understated. It reminds me of the last 20 minutes of the party, where you’re either saying goodbyes or working up the courage to finally make your move.
// ARTIST TO WATCH: vlush
vlush’s debut album WHO 250 “stands out of 2019’s crowded R&B landscape establishing itself as a breakthrough, combining midwestern folk & art-rock tendencies with hyper-rhythmic tour-de-force professional production agent danTV.” – Courtesy of the artist.
Listen to vlush’s debut album WHO 250:
