is a New York baby through and through – and her sophomore album is indisputable proof of that.
Inspired by the city that raised her, ‘N.Y. Baby’ is a set of ten tracks born from the chaos, possibility and freedom that growing up in New York has brought her. Despite city life making mayhem a steady presence in her life – having experienced many a messy relationship, breakup and night out – Blu DeTiger remains optimistic, leaving no trace of melancholy in her sound.
‘Whisper’ immediately places you into the funk-enthused sonics that dominate this album. Blu’s bright, bass-led disco and infectious melodies begin from the very first beat, and cohesively continue up until the very last pluck of her bass. Each track is peppered with instrumentals, giving the listener plenty of opportunity to cut loose, ultimately fulfilling the main philosophy of this album – to stop thinking, and start moving.
‘N.Y. Baby’ never slows down. The closest the listener ever gets to catching their breath is on ‘Divine’, a track that has the glimmer of melancholy in its introspective lyricism – ‘you gave enough then pulled away / I gave you all the love I wish I could’ve saved’. Despite the evident presence of heartbreak, there’s still a sense of hope embedded within the groovy bassline, which could convince even the most scorned of lovers to live by her life rule to think less and move more.
Although the sonics sparkle, this album has an undertone of grittiness to it as it documents the sleazy grime of partygirl culture that is buried deep within the streets of New York. The track ‘Makeup’ brings to mind images of smudged mascara, sweaty floors and banging headaches, brought to life with aloof Charli xcx inspired vocals – ‘early morning wakeup / I’m living in my makeup’.
An incredibly cohesive set of songs crafted around her own contagious basslines, Blu DeTiger’s sophomore album, ‘N.Y. Baby’, is an all-encompassing glimpse into her experiences in her beloved home city, ultimately exposing the good, the bad and the ugly of New York City.
8/10