Despite what Twitter says, this new era of R&B is robust and recording artist Fana Hues is one of the genre’s most compelling voices. With the eager ears of millions of fans following the release of her debut EP Hues, and the securement of a feature on Tyler the Creator’s Grammy Awarding-winning album, Call Me If You Get Lost, the Pasadena-native is looking to continue this success with her sophomore project flora + fana (via Bright Antenna Records).
Immediately, you can feel the distinction sonic difference between flora + fana and its predecessor which isn’t easy considering the impressive production quality of Hues. Nonetheless, the opening strums of the guitar strings create an ethereal feeling as Fana sings, “I found myself bottom of this Moscato”. Many songs like “moscato” produced by Bam Marley are focused on relationships and “tending your garden” according to an interview Fana had with DeAsia Paige of NPR Music.
The album continues with an earthy theme that feels compact yet light. There are many amazing qualities that give adequate time to shine throughout the album. For instance on “breakfast” produced by Hope Shorter, Biako, and The Idiot the drums contain such a crisp clarity that is enhanced by Fana’s beautiful vocal reverb.
By far the strongest track on this project is “pieces”. Built upon melancholic lyricism, Fana’s practice of poetry and prose is evidence. The intentional repetition of the lyrics “now, I’m torn to pieces” prods at your heart because of how raw the emotion is. As a listener, the longing penetrates your heart upon contact.
Arguably one of the more popular songs on this album is “BAD bad”. The lyrics are spiritedly sassy as the bass weaves in to add definition. This track is an intimate conversation that instantly pulls you in. With production and writing credits given to Biako and Grammy Award-nominated singer and multi-instrumentalist McClenney, Fana brought out the big guns for this track.
The energy of this album shifts at the halfway point beginning at “high roller” as electronic elements heard across Ravyn Lenae’s HYPNOS begin to take over. Don’t be deceived by the bubbly instrumentation, the track produced by Willie Yanez and Butcha is eerie in nature. The lyrics, “I ain’t coming home / don’t wait up/ by yo phone / I ain’t coming home / don’t wait up,” themselves have dark compassionate energy.
Followed by “dayxday”, produced by Biako and Insightful, the beat trails along with a message of overthinking as it churns like a locomotive climbing a mountain pushing forward inch by inch. In an interview with Eda Yu of Audiomack World, DJ Booth when asked about the messaging behind the track Fana replied, “it’s a reminder to not think too far into the future and to take things one step at a time and not overcrowd my thoughts and my brain and my space with all these things I have to do”.
Tasked with the heavy burden of closing out flora + fana is “wait”. Sequencing is such a forgotten art, artist often misses the mark when it comes to closing out a project properly, however, Fana had no issue with this succeeding to do so in with a track just over a minute long.
Although “wait” is just an acapella track, she doesn’t hold back in delivering a cinematic closing telling NPR that “wait” was a way to, “showcase me being patient with myself”.
flora + fana is splendid. The songs met the quality bar Fana Hues set for herself as an artist. Nevertheless, quite a few tracks even surpass that mark. As excepted the songwriting was sensational while the production was a dramatic improvement from Hues making flora + fana one of the better independent R&B projects to be released this year. To imply there is any lack of quality in this project would be dishonest. Now as she’s risen the bar yet again for herself, it would be a sight to witness if Fana Hues could somehow surpass this standard in future releases.
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Want to see more of Fana Hues? Connect with her on your favorite platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or her website fanahues.com.
