Baby Rose’s debut album is a warm, comforting plate of soul, served up on a silky smooth bed of plucked guitar and mellow drum loops.
Entitled To Myself, this ten-track release seems custom-made to yank on the heartstrings of any listener, pairing the young singer’s staggering alto with soft R&B beats and self-reflective lyricism. This album is not designed for seekers of singable earworms or obvious ‘bops’: To Myself instead finds coherence through romantic jazz chords and delicious tonal ambiguities. This is the soundtrack to a picnic in the park, as opposed to a Saturday night’s pre-drinks. In turn, the music should should be savoured: these songs are glasses of fine wines, not tequila shots.
Baby Roses’s stylistic consistency leads to seamless transitions between tracks, and while “every song sounds the same” isn’t a traditional compliment, it’s a joy to lose yourself in this cohesive collection of urban lullabies. With all the grace of a gentle breeze, Rose’s voice glides effortlessly across a selection of carefully crafted piano backdrops. A walking juxtaposition, her vocals are powerful and fragile in equal measures (think Sampha, only female). This is sweet soul music at its best.
All in all, this is an incredibly promising debut. Track by track, Baby Rose proves herself to be both a master of melodies and a voice to be reckoned with. Without a doubt, she’s one to watch.
Haiku Review
Titled For Myself,
This is silky soul for all:
I’m hungry for more.
