If you heard the title Blue Dreams and it conjured up fantasies of an unbridled love that verges on a psychedelic experience, then you'd be right. In 4 short tracks, SAI weaves a soundscape that feels like it goes beyond music. An exploration of human intimacy that is wrapped in velvety vocals and touches you deep within.
I digress, let's take a step back from the beauty of this project and begin with the most important question, who is SAI?
SAI is a YouTuber, writer and singer, who has the ability to craft emotions into emotive sonic experiences. Featured on Greedy South's inaugural Rising Pop/RnB Voices List, the singer has made a name for herself in 2024. With a never ending itch to create music, she's a music fan's perfect artist.
SAI's sound is a musical alchemy of RnB, soul, hip hop and neo-soul, shaped into a life form. This is never more evident than on the Blue Dreams EP. At the core of what makes the EP what it is, are SAI's mellifluous vocals. While relaxed and laidback, the music has a soft intensity that adds to the meaning of every lyric.
"Is It You?" has carefully crafted bass lines that are paired with harmonious singing. The song itself is a question, as the title indicates. SAI wants to know if her devotion is matched, and she presents a willingness to be vulnerable: "I love you, you know it's true." They're softly sung background vocals, that sound almost like a whisper, which make a world of difference to the tapestry of the track.
The emotions of "Is It You?" cascade into "Run It Back," and they seem to only increase in intensity. There's a sense of yearning that underlies everything: "Do you feel what I'm feeling? Do you know where you're going? No need to get lost in the moment, you're the one that I've chosen." "Run It Back" feels like soul with more than a hint of hip hop and it presents SAI's versatility, while continuing this journey of expressive emotions.
"Closer" opens with an unknown speaker voicing words of affirmation, which perfectly sets it up. The song speaks on distance making the heart grow fonder and it preempts the EP's closer "Fuego." A song that sees SAI alight with passion and what was a journey of yearning, ends in an eruption of desire. The climax of the Blue Dreams trance. Intimate yet surreal.
Greedysouth rating: 7.2/10
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