Tag: Naomi Sharon

Naomi Sharon – “The Only Love We Know” review

Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands singer/songwriter Naomi Sharon with a brand new EP. Starting in 2018 with her debut single “Breeze”, she would go on to release 4 more singles until Toronto, Ontario, Canada superstar Drake signed her to OVO Sound for an impressive debut Obsidian giving a refreshing take on the way the label delivers alternative R&B going beyond that in favor of neo-soul, afrobeats, afro house, downtempo, sophisti-pop, deep house, ambient pop & smooth soul. Year & half later, Naomi’s back to address The Only Love We Know.

“Bittersweet” is a passionate intro asking if her & her partner can simply be while “Can We Do This Over?” works in elements of smooth soul, sophisti-pop, downtempo, contemporary R&B & neo-soul asking for a redo since she doesn’t want closure. “Calm Waters” finds her wishing on a star pleading to be in the presence of her romantic interest again while “Soft Like Dawn” sings about things not feeling sane when you’re unsure & drifting away. 

The song “Feels Like Home” portrays herself as a woman who deserves better despite sharing in her current relationship & the title track produced the EP’s executive producer Jordan Ullman of Majid Jordan closes out the transformative successor to Obsidian showing some gospel influences reflecting on the time she spent with her ex-husband Jamie Sun.

Aiming to exceed the high expectations her debut had set, Naomi easily clears the new Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR collab album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U and Roy Wood$’ most recent EP Dark Nights diving into the emotional complexity of moving on from experiences that no longer serve your happiness. Jordan’s honest chemistry with OVO’s First Lady crafts a solid base of intricate sophisti-pop, alternative R&B, downtempo, neo-soul & adult contemporary for a journey through the beautiful, the broken & everything in between.

Score: 3.5/5

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Naomi Sharon – “Obsidian” review

Naomi Sharon is a 28 year old singer/songwriter from Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands who started out in 2018 with her debut single “Breeze”. She would go on to release 4 more singles until Toronto superstar Drake made her the newest signee to OVO Sound this past summer. So after building up some hype for this full-length debut LP over here in the form of a couple singles, we’re getting a proper introduction to her a couple weeks after For All the Dogs became the best thing Drizzy has done since 2015.

“Definition of Love” is a great opener drawing from sophisti-pop, alternative R&B, afrobeats & UK bass singing that her partner is exactly that whereas “If This Is Love” works in a smooth soul instrumental singing about this man’s beauty becoming strange to her. “Another Life” fuses alternative R&B with ambient house, ambient pop, downtempo & afro house confessing that her heart is aching even though she promised herself that she wouldn’t break it leading into the acoustic “Myrrh” passionately sings about an anciеnt love filling the room.

40’s production on maybe my favorite track here “Celestial” is absolutely dreamy with Naomi on top of it telling the person that she’s no longer seeing that she actually still adores him just before the moody, afro house infused “Time & Trust” advises that the 2 things don’t mix. “Push” featuring Omah Lay is an afrobeats duet with both singers tackling themes of intimacy, but then “Holding in Place” has a bit of a wavy chilled out EDM influence to the beat singing about times like this not lasting forever & doing the best she can to keep the most important person in her life with her.

“Extacy” discusses losing empathy & parts of her are already starting to move on over a luscious instrumental while the cavernously produced “Lucid Dreamer” explains that there’s no luxury worth living. “Regardless” assures this guy that she’ll stick around even if she’s brokenhearted accompanied by some acoustics & after the “If This Is Love” outro, the bonus track “Hills” truly ends Naomi’s debut album with a tropical vibe singing about having a dude loving love that wasn’t for them.

Starting the deluxe run officially, “Nothing Sweeter” balances between contemporary R&B & neo-soul with a hint of singer/songwriter explaining that nothing else hits different for her than the first kiss from the love of her live while “Goodbyes (Myrrh)” experiments with deep house & garage house with the help of DJ Snake for a reimagined successor to “Myrrh” & one that I find myself enjoying significantly compared to the original version of it.

OVO as a label generally tends to be mid in what they have to offer alternative R&B alongside trap & pop rap, but I can definitely see why Drake signed Naomi Sharon to begin & am interested in hearing her blossom artistically going forward. She incorporates elements of afrobeats, downtempo, sophisti-pop & afro house into the PBR&B sound that October’s Very Own specializes in with an additionally clear Sade influence.

Score: 3.5/5

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