Flipping through different music platforms, such as Spotify and iTunes, it's evident that there seems to be a constant search for that next amazing song. Today’s music often seems to offer something for everyone, and some artists can give you a strong nostalgic feeling. This leads us to mention fantastic artists SZA, LION BABE and H.E.R.
SZA or Solana Rowe is an alternative R&B artist. According to AllMusic, SZA got her start in 2012 when she released her first EP, "See.SZA.Run". She then followed that with her 2013 EP, "S. SZA", and proceeded to sign to the label Top Dawg. This label is also known to feature Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul. SZA’s unique voice is a nice reminder of the disco legend Donna Summers. Moreover, her voice has a genuine smoothness that is reminiscent of fellow R&B star Janelle Monae. SZA is an up and coming superstar that has the talent to be a relevant alternative R&B force for years to come.
With a similar uniqueness and flare, LION BABE is an "under the radar gem" kind of an artist. The duo is made up of singer Jillian Hervey and producer Lucas Goodman. LION BABE’s beginning can be traced back to their meeting as college classmates. They released their first song, “Treat Me Like Fire,” and uploaded it to SoundCloud. An interview from Interview Magazine gives more insight on their process with creating songs. They also describe the musical chemistry between them. Their sound is a unique, alternative take on R&B. It is a mixture of hip-hop, rap and R&B which makes them so amazing.
Lastly, an artist whose anonymity fits her beautiful voice. H.E.R is an R&B force to be reckoned with. Arriving to the R&B scene in 2016, she released her first full-length album "Vol.1". Since then, H.E.R has garnered attention from the likes of superstars Alicia Keys, Rihanna and many others. H.E.R’s smooth soulful voice can be witnessed in songs like “Avenue” and “Focus”. According to a Hollywood Life article on H.E.R, the reason behind her not wanting anyone to know her true identity is because she would rather have people focus on her music. Moreover, the acronym H.E.R stands for Having Everything Revealed, which is ironic because she wants to keep herself a mystery. Her new album "Vol.2" was recently released in June, and H.E.R’s future is a bright one if she continues at this pace.
This trio of stars has pushed the boundaries of standard R&B to many dedicated fans of the genre. The way each one mixes their own form of R&B with other genres is what makes them so special. The future of R&B is an exciting one, and it will be rewarding to see what new music these artists end up releasing.
