London-based R&B-pop singer, songwriter, and producer ANISE drops her debut EP, Black Eve, a six-track collection of R&B, pop, soul, and trap music.
On the EP, written and produced by Alex Dopierala and Terell ‘Tee’ Farrell, ANISE probes topics of independence, womanhood, feminine intuition, and empowerment.
Talking about Black Eve, ANISE shares, “I see this whole project as the fruit of my Saturn Return – the culmination of a few years of rediscovering and redirecting, as well as spiritual, mental, and emotional growth. By peeling back the layers, I’ve gotten in touch with the parts of myself that were yearning to be expressed. For me, this ‘Black Eve’ EP represents a reawakening to myself, my power, my womanhood, and my Divine Feminine strength. In its musical feel, each song on the EP represents the five elements of nature – water, air, earth, fire, and space. I’m a very visual musical artist and so it was important to me to translate this concept to both the album cover and the mini-doc I made for my fans accompanying this release. The making of this album transformed me, and as my first musical project, it will always be incredibly special.”
Originally from New York, ANISE moved to London in 2018 to expand her sound à la Black American artists Eartha Kitt and Josephine Baker before her, who found their music home and creative spark in Europe.
Highlights on the EP include the title track, a blend of nuanced trap beats topped by the velvety smooth voice of ANISE. Soft, radiant backing harmonies infuse the tune with lush tones.
“Toulouse” travels on a low-slung yet potent rhythmic pulse as ANISE’s posh-laced timbres give the lyrics glowing quixotic colors, dreamy and cashmere. Whereas “Obey” rolls out on simmering layers of plush R&B flavors. ANISE’s smoldering, sensuous timbres imbue the tune with warm textures.
“Kinfolk” merges hints of pop with percolating shades of R&B, while the harmonics present an effervescent dynamic. “Grades,” a personal favorite, opens on emerging, swanky coloration, followed by a contagious subtle rhythm. Whispery but delicious, ANISE infuses the lyrics with lustrous tones.
With Black Eve, ANISE demonstrates not only her deluxe voice, smooth as silk but her talent for injecting the songs with alluring emotions.