Album Review: Rosie Lowe - 'YU'
The sultry neo-soul-meets-R&B vibe of Rosie Lowe makes for intoxicating listening. Her latest album, ‘YU’ documents the feelings of lust, infidelity and overwhelming feelings of love.
From the outset, Rosie Lowe’s songs are all-encompassing – she captivates a feeling and transports you to the moment whether you feel related to it, or not. The momentary pulsating and waning of synth that carries the simplistic ‘Lifeline’ has a shimmering, seamless transition into ‘The Way’, which feels as though it is the aural embodiment of those sped-up videos of flowers blooming. The song blossoms into a groovy song of admiration that feels as though it could’ve been written by Robyn – the queen of love songs.
Whether Rosie Lowe is discussing the feeling of being called back to the same person over and over again (Birdsong) or giving into lust and knowing it was just a one-time thing (Mango) there’s an air of cool-as-a-cucumber sensuality and confidence that exudes from her hazy jazz vocals. ‘Royalty’ solidifies Rosie Lowe in her knack for writing funky songs, with cheeky undertones that may be missed on first listen: “You’ve got the freedom to go before the dawn creeps in. Our night was good, but not enough to sway me.”
‘Pharaoh’ is a silky feminine mantra over letting belief in your own power guide you and along similar veins are ‘ITILY’ – though it is more about the pull of the flesh – and ‘UEMM’ is about coming to terms with wanting someone who isn’t always available. The album as a whole, presents a strong sense of empowerment in listening to the needs of your body, no matter how much it may feel like it is sending you astray. ‘YU’ is an open and honest account of the journey we go through when experiencing feelings of a romantic nature.
Rosie Lowe will be on a small tour of the UK, in late October.
Words by Tyler Damara Kelly