In honor of Women’s Month, we highlighted eight emerging R&B artists rising above the waters!
Yelly
Yelly is an emerging singer-songwriter from Sacramento pioneering a new R&B sound influenced by Pop and Neo-Soul. The teenaged star has a captivating vocal range that instantly grabs ears alike, drawing from self-discovery and past memories. Releasing her Don’t Drown EP in the fall of last year, Yelly uses music as a vehicle to express her emotions for the world to relate to. “My music is a blend of old school R&B and new-age hip-hop,” she self-describes her sound. Standout cuts like “Concrete” and “Feel The Same” will undeniably turn you into a fan.
Asia Graves
Born in North Carolina, Asia Graves is carving out a lane of her own. Her haunting vocals and impactful lyrics brought the rising vocalist far over the past few years. Singles like “Missing You” and “Addicted” amassed thousands of views within months of release. “I want them to feel empowered and strong even in moments of vulnerability,” she says. Graves’ sound leans toward sassy and empowering as she pulls from various moments in her life. Signed to Ayo N Keyz, Asia Graves has bright potential and a radiating personality that attracts all walks of life.
Sarina Désir
Hailing from Maryland, emerging singer Sabrina Désir brings an uncompromising honesty to each lyric she writes. “I want my passion to inspire others and help make life a bit easier for everyone,” she recites. Her recent full-length release, Come to the Light, is filled with ethereal expression and memorable one-liners that women alike can relate to. Sarina’s ability to display versatility throughout her music is one of many reasons she’ll become the next breakout star to arise from the DMV in a matter of no time. Check out Sarina Désir’s “10/10” music video below.
Emani 22
In late-2018, emerging vocalist Emani 22 caught the ears of many after featuring on a slew of records on Trippie Redd’s A Love Letter to You 3. Furthermore, she made major waves with records like “Inside” and “Slime,” which dropped a little over a year ago. Emani’s angelic voice and unique sound prove her to be a great addition to any song. There’s no telling when we’ll hear her next collaborative effort, but for now, check out Emani’s “Dripomatic” video treatment and recent album, The Color Red.
Raee Babe
As one of London’s most radiant voices, Raee Babe has crisp vocals that bring 00’s nostalgia to the table. Similar to the success story of Ella Mai, her single “My Mind” saw viral success in the States, propelling her music career to new heights. With influences like Jasmine Sullivan and Keisha Cole, the 16-year-old displays an untarnished range of emotions when it comes to love and trust. Raee Babe’s craft is far from mediocre and arguably, one of that’ll have you running back for more.
Gabrielle Lynn
Gabrielle Lynn is a prime example of why R&B is thriving so much. Heavily influenced by the likes of Sade and SZA, Gabrielle’s artistry holds a mirror to herself and the surrounding world. The Minnesota songstress has created a masterpiece full of serene melodies, concrete lyrics, and raw emotion through projects like 2019’s Ethereal and most recently, Irresistible. Gabrielle Lynn’s strong penmanship and desire to put out high quality music is destined to take her far.
Baby Rose
From attending the Revenge of the Dreamers III recording sessions to touring parts of the world with Ari Lennox, Washington singer-songwriter Baby Rose quickly rose to fame this past year. Her To Myself album dropped a while back and the 25-year-old singer never fails to impress, offering up rich melodies and nostalgic hooks. Rose’s music can be described as vintage R&B with a splash of modern touch, penning notable records like “Borderline” and her viral triumph “All To Myself.” Fueled by raw emotions, you can expect to hear the name Baby Rose once more in the forthcoming years.
Mayila
Known for her sultry and seductive vocals, Ohio-native Mayila ultimately found her voice through songwriting. With impressive lyricism and empowering verses, she gives off quite the first impression. Since moving to Los Angeles, Mayila swiftly became an artist to keep an eye on, penning hits for R&B heavyweights like Tinashe, Chris Brown, and Ty Dolla $ign to name a few. Peep “Receipts” with Allyn below.
Submission by Malcolm Trapp