Cariss Auburn - 'Oblivion'

Still relatively under the radar, Wolverhampton’s Cariss Auburn is quietly making waves with her smooth and dreamlike alt-pop R&B. It’s been a busy start to 2021 for Auburn with ‘Oblivion’ her third release so far this year following in the footsteps of former singles ‘Float’ and ‘Daydream.’ There’s no signs of fatigue either with her first EP in five years due out next month.

Cariss Auburn’s influences shine through on this track as there’s one or two recognisable nods towards Destiny’s Child in their more chilled out moments. Vocally it’s every bit as smooth as Arlo Parks, though perhaps slightly more reserved and compact which makes for a relaxed listen akin to having a magnum in the sun or drinking camomile tea after a shocker of a day to bring you back to a nice level of tranquillity. 

The UK R&B/alt-pop scene has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence over the last couple of years and is flourishing right now. Household names like FKA Twigs and Rina Sawayama are paving the way for a host of hugely talented under the radar acts from across the country like Cariss Auburn, Kohla, Baby Taylah, Jaydonclover and many more. Each deliver their own unique brand and interpretation of the genre and all of whom show plenty of potential which can more than match up to their peers. 

With indie label Modern Sky pulling another rabbit out of the hat with their sleak production here, I could easily see Auburn’s stock rising and her already promising songwriting going from strength to strength and battling it out in the charts with the likes of SZA or Doja Cat in the not too distant future.  

Words by Richard Cobb

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