Word Around the Sound is… Ariana Deboo just released her debut solo project, the Baby Blue EP. Now, if you could capture that color as a sound, it would absolutely playback as Deboo’s vocals. Her debut radiates that baby blue aura with her chilling vocals rolling through the songs like a fog moving into a bay.
We’ve heard her gorgeous vocals accompanying a variety of artists over the years, and some may even remember the Valentine’s Day EP, but we never really got to know her. Now it seems as if she’s truly come into her voice and married it to her confidence as a woman today to create the sound that we hear on her debut project. Seemingly years in the making, this project finally paints the full picture of who Ariana Deboo is as an artist today.
Her emotional lyrics breeze across the EP showcasing her impactful songwriting capabilities. There are tender moments like in her track “Dreamhouse” where she places the listener in a scene of a fanciful romance with a calico kitty on the front stairs while she can hear someone strumming their guitar with notes to her heart. In contrast, there are moments of subtle strength, as she exudes in the satisfying “Replay,” where she talks about those moments where you have to put an ex in their place. “You thought that you could replay, rewind and find your place. Don’t you know you messed up, you lied to my face.”
Overall, Baby Blue is a sweet soulful debut offering from Ariana Deboo and I’m thrilled we finally have a nice little collection of songs from her to cherish.
Ariana Deboo – Baby Blue EP
Chong the Nomad “Shake Step”
It’s been a while since we’ve had some new music from Chong the Nomad, but that’s okay because she hasn’t lost her creative sensibilities. Thankfully, she’s back with a brand new single to inspire us to keep on dancing. In “Shake Step” she gives us a bit of a blurry, disjointed disco joint that fuses a dirty electronic beat with a shimmering groove of discotheque lyrics that have been chopped and screwed to make something so uniquely Chong.
The Unusuals feat. Fatal Lucciauno “Finna Be”
With every release, The Unusuals gain more and more traction. Their classic boom bap sound fused with modern approaches has been invigorating for hip-hop fans. These two tenured emcees are a reminder that even though the genre can grow and evolve, the foundation it was built upon will never go out of style.
Currently, we are coming out of a major period of experimentation within hip-hop. Although there are artists still pushing the boundaries today, the appreciation for the old school has come back into the conversation and The Unusuals, as well as their latest track “Finna Be” are examples of what’s at the center of these discussions. Featuring the just as legendary Fatal Lucciauno, the track is a nod to a sound that once was but with a unique modern approach overall.
Onry Ozzborn BlvckBeachBoi
The Oldominion crew is representing the Northwest in a couple of ways for this edition of Word Around the Sound; not only did The Unusuals (Ninjaface and Xperience) release a single but fellow crew member Onry Ozzborn dropped his latest album titled BlvckBeachBoi.
What I have always loved about Onry’s rhymes is that his references span from the most obscure to the most well-known pop culture and yet it always makes sense and fits together cohesively. On top of that, I’ve always loved his tone and approach because it is both raw and very matter of fact, yet warm and inviting making it easy to listen to at any point in the day.
All of these elements and more are reflected in his latest album BlvckBeachBoi. However, one of the biggest standouts for me was the different flows he would tap into and how effortlessly he’d slip into a smooth succession of bars that would nestle into the pocket of the beats crafted by Smoke M2D6. In a season where we see more darkness than sunshine, this is an ideal album to add to your playlist.
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BlkSknn with Charlie Cash “Peach Faygo / Chief Keef” Music Video
In 2022, BlkSknn released a short four-track EP titled, We Are the Moon, which I thought was one of the most important releases of the year. I still run it back often, so I was delighted when I saw that he was dropping the music video for my favorite track “Peach Faygo” which features the incredible Charlie Cash with her sugar-coated flow and diamond smile.
The video doesn’t stop there as we see a disgruntled BlkSknn on the couch wondering why his remote won’t work as the TV continues to play the video for his track “Chief Keef,” making for an entertaining double feature. This leads up to the release of his next project, Late Bloomer, which is set to drop on November 21.
NËSTRÄ “Extra” Music Video
If you ain’t heard of him, my dude NËSTRÄ be hella’ “Extra.” Within a week he’s released two separate tracks. His latest music video is a boisterous anthem for the artist as he acts hella’ “Extra” for the camera. Although the video is a fun catchy bop that’s been stuck in my head, I prefer when he gives us his R&B soul side, like he does on “Break It Down.” I’ve enjoyed watching NËSTRÄ grow over the years and with these releases the development is evident.
Upcoming Events Around the Sound
Sunday, November 19: Presented by Arch Rivals and Red West, Robb Bank$ and Ill Chris will be at Madame Lou’s. Doors will open at 7pm with tickets starting at $35 for all ages general admission.
Monday, November 20: Haley Graves is headlining at Neumos with Air Jazz and IONIC opening up the night. The show is 21 and over with tickets starting at $15. Doors will open at 7pm the night of the show.
Tuesday, November 22: Cloudbreak Music Fest presents Oblé Reed with LIVt and SUS at the High Dive. Doors will open at 8pm with tickets starting at $10 for those 21 and over.
Tuesday, November 22: Cloudbreak Music Fest presents Enumclaw at Neumos with Yomori and Princess Pulpit. Tickets start at $10 with doors opening up at 7pm for folks of all ages.
Saturday, November 25: Amapiano is Here with sounds by DJ Nayiram and friends at the Crocodile. Strictly 21 and over, doors will open at 10pm with tickets starting at $20.
