Stanisland Magazine

Emerging R&B artist goes beyond the threshold with thrilling lo-fi music

Rising starlet Ruby Francis gives us something to chew on while we wait for the coming R&B revolution to begin. As a prelude to this highly anticipated era, she gives us a fresh batch of music to chew on – Helicopter

Her fresh sound is the third track taken from her upcoming EP Pages of Philosophy, slated for release this summer. It includes the single Back 2 Myself.

What Helicopter Sounds Like

Her latest track can be described as a blend of ’00s R&B melded with a neo-soul foundation. We hear it – along with elements of jazz, pop, and some chunky lo-fi instrumentation.

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In a statement, Francis elucidated the song’s motivation:

“It’s the most personal song of the project. There aren’t many lyrics because it felt right to leave lots of space for interpretation. At the time I had met someone and fallen deeply in love. I was listening to a lot of wavy lo-fi productions from artists like Georgia Anne Muldrow, Mndsgn and KIEFER, which heavily influenced the overall sound and bounciness. I wrote and finished the entire song in a whole sitting — production and lyrics — when I really felt truly lovestruck. I rushed home, dying to get this idea out of me. There was a blank Logic project; I blinked and there was a finished song.”

Sitting atop this wispy production—self-produced by the singer—is a delivery of refined vocals that simmer within a range few could execute. The main ear-locking point of this uplifting drop is its narrative: inspired by infatuation, falling in love is front and centre in a euphoric and endearing way.

The Verdict

What is there to hate? Helicopter is a slice of soothing radiance, replete with the vitality of a life-galvanising episode. Her musical influences make a clear impact through aural textures that reverberate in each wave of her minimalist vocal dispatches. It offers a clear harmony – one that corroborates the motifs, drawing us further in.

Where to Stream

Helicopter is available to stream via Spotify, Apple and YouTube Music. You can also buy for keeps on iTunes.