- The LA producer lends new life to '90s R&B.
- If some producers make music built on the premise of escapism, BAE BAE looks in the opposite direction. The last time I saw them perform in LA, they cut their music mid-track to loudly confide in the crowd about their struggles with depression. At peak-time, the confession was only met with empathizing cheers.
The LA producer has always had genre-defying taste, with a special affinity towards diasporic rhythms that "bring out the divine feminine." Her debut EP, spiral, is more focused, zooming in on her love for early '90s R&B and bass music. Take "for real," which retains the rosy tenderness of the For Real cut, "You Don't Know Nothin," but is then given a futuristic bounce with Miami bass percussion. "do you want me" is reminiscent of the relaxed, R&B-laced club of Asmara. AKUA's appearance on "if remix" is heartbreakingly sweet. Her voice sounds like it's arriving from across the other side of the room, but the emotions resonating within them are penetrative. The most likely to be played out, "break play" is jungle with an innocent charm. The track's video game synths and prancing breaks cut through the cool of the rest of the record.
On the opening track, Queen Hollins recites, "Fear's gotta come up so it can come out. Grief comes up so it can come out. Anger comes up so it can come out. So we can make space for new possibilities." This poetry encapsulates what BAE BAE achieves with her music, bringing us in close to invite an eventual euphoric release.
Tracklist01. Purge feat. Asphodèle
02. Break Play
03. Do You Want Me
04. If Remix feat. AKUA
05. For Real
06. Can I Get A Kiss