Rouge [LP]

There's a timeless groove to the R&B of Yuna on her fourth forthcoming album Rouge, one that s been two years in the making. It s the most ambitious project the songwriter has ever taken on, and the first album she's putting out as a fully realized woman. It's also an LP that she worked harder than ever on, re-visiting songs, editing them down, adding new layers, enriching every single moment to make it the most luscious musical experience for her audience. Yuna makes soulful pop that contains the sultriness of Sade, the flair of Aaliyah, and the sweetness of Brandy. Via her three pre-existing albums, Yuna has built her palette of melodic, uplifting soul. Her third album Chapters in 2016 was something of a breakthrough, featuring production from Fisticuffs and features with Usher ("Crush") and Jhene Aiko. Her new album s list of features is mouth-wateringly impressive. It includes: Little Simz, Kyle, G-Eazy, Jay Park and Masego. Together with executive producer Robin Hannibal and a team of producers (Jason "J. Lbs" Pounds, Fisticuffs, Cardiak, Jordan Reyes) she explored sampling culture for the first time. The title Rouge is for the color red, which has been calling to her at this moment. "It's a feeling I'm having right now. I just got married. I've become the woman I've always wanted to be. The whole album is about how I am with myself: I'm comfortable with my relationship, with my focus on my career. It s the color of becoming this woman that I am."