GIRL CRUSH: LION BABE
Every week we feature our current female artist obsession. This week it’s the NYC-based, female fronted duo of Lion Babe.
Lion Babe invokes that magical music moment that you only get every once in awhile for me. I’m talking that moment when you’re listening to a song and it does something so unexpected, so refreshing, and just so good that you can’t help but break into a huge grin and just let out some sort of noise to express your feelings.
You might know Lion Babe from their collaboration with Disclosure on “Hourglass” off of their latest record Caracal. But if that isn’t exactly ringing a bell, hopefully you didn’t miss their debut record, Begin, that dropped earlier this year either. If they’re brand new to you, they put such a new spin on R&B that it demands you to listen. Lead singer Jillian Hervey has such a dreamy voice- seriously nothing short of Beyoncé and SZA’s lovechild.
Lion Babe is vocalist Jillian Hervey + producer Lucas Goodman, and together they created the most fitting mixtape for the summer I’ve found yet. It’s called Sun Joint and I have not been able to stop listening since I found it. It’s smoldering and sexy in all the right spots- sort of like the backdrop to the steamy summer night that exists only in your fantasy. Tracks like “Hide + Seek”, “Jazz Drums”, and “Still in Love” are so hot it’s hard to even find words for them besides that they should only be played when the suns starts going down. “Rain Drums” is lighter and more for the day, and is the beginning of such an amazing sequence of tracks on this mixtape. “Sun Joint” and “Endless Summer” follow, and are even better than you’d imagine just by the names. All three are indescribable little slices of summer wrapped up in three minute tunes. Also, let’s not forget about that Raury feature on “Jungle Lady Remix Pt. 1”. Goodman’s backbone combined with Hervey’s vocals are to die for, leaving Sun Joint as the only thing I’ve had any desire to listen to for the past few days.
It’s free, fun, and right on time for summer, so don’t pass this one up. Like just hit the download or play button and watch the quality of your entire world increase dramatically with the addition of Lion Babe. Also check them on tour starting today.
Fans of SZA: This is an absolutely necessary add to your music library.
Everyone else: do not sleep on this.
