“My mind has a million tabs open in a single moment”, say Shooga Shay about her music style. This Brooklyn-native singer-songwriter has recently premiered a new track called “Cruel of you”. Effortlessly blending R&B with neo-soul, she names Anita Baker, Alanis Morissette, Erykah Badu and Nirvana in one sentence. Talking about a million tabs, right?
“Cruel of you” feels like light breeze. And fireflies. Yes, both at the same time. Musically very pleasant, the tune mixes sounds of an acoustic guitar and strings with an upbeat rhythm, totally urban style, and dreamy vocals. Warm, dreamy vocals reminiscent of (it might just be me, but I don’t think so) Jill Scott from her early albums.
What attracted me the most to Shooga’s music is the vibe. A weightless feeling of wandering in the streets of a big city, abstract words thrown in the lyrics as if by coincidence, and being “undeniably” herself. No pressure, just cool sounds playing in the background and romantic moods floating in the air, almost worry-less. Who wouldn’t like to feel this way all the time?
As you trace back Shooga’s releases, you will also hear an evolution of her sound. From more eclectic musical attempts back in 2021, to a more consistent style, comfortably settled in the soul genre, fitting the vocals and the lyrics. What can I say, I’m hooked. Waiting for more, while playing “Cruel of you” on repeat (sorry for messing up your Spotify stats, Shooga!).
Photos: Press release
I’ve listened to the song in its entirety and it brought a smile to my face as I played it over and over again. The style is definitely a vibe. It’s an impromptu bbq, it’s a block party in the summer, it’s purposely bumping into someone by accident, it’s the beauty of each season change. I feel like pulling out my old 45s, invite some friends over, sip some wine, and reminisce about when life was simple. Definitely a vibe….