21 year old East London-based singer-songwriter sona blue has unveiled a tender tale of love and heartbreak with his debut EP, saint.
sona blue's mellow yet electrifying vocals are a perfect match for his lo-fi bedroom pop production. His cadences mimic trains of thought and whispers from a lover. "In the dusk / Watch the sun slip under the world / Feel the rush all you want / I can restore what you missing," he sings gently in the first track, "hermès." The looming synths and drums that track alongside echos create an atmosphere for pondering, as sona blue details the sweet firsts of a relationship overtop.
As saint details the full trajectory of a past love, sona blue continues his emotional exploration with the honest but heartbreaking "17," and the somber, reflective rhymes of "no better." In the sonic layers, there are references to Frank Ocean, Ryan Beatty and many more of the most prominent R&B writers alike. His cover of "By Your Side" fits perfectly in the story arc. Between Sade's soulful original and The 1975's lovesick rendition, there is sona blue's version with a little bit of both.
While the title track retains the same rawness and bittersweet feeling, its slightly more upbeat tempo and brighter sound brings sentiments of hope. It certainly provides closure to the story sona blue has in mind, but at the same time, it leaves listeners wanting more.
Whether you are hopelessly in love, or waiting for something to blossom, saint is a sonic journey you wouldn't want to miss.
