For the average teenager, the summer is a time to unwind from their studies, car trips with friends, or book college tours, but there’s nothing average about Canadian recording artist Luna Elle. For this 17-year-old songwriter, this summer marks her breakout in the music industry as a solo artist. Every generation of R&B music has had a promising teen talent, and Luna Elle is looking to snatch today’s title. Her debut EP Loss Of Valuable Energy (L.O.V.E.) [via Hot Freestyle Records] has a balance of downtempo ambient beats and dazzling vocals perfectly tailored this traditionalist fans of the genre. Taking inspiration from legacy acts like Brandy and new school leader Jazmine Sullivan, the 7-track project showcases how dynamic a singer she already is.
One of the best examples of Luna’s ability is the opening track “Just Friends” produced by Larue Made It. Masterfully sequenced, the song co-written by Luna serves as the perfect introduction to the project. As the piano chords progress and Luna’s voice emerges, rabid R&B lovers could quickly draw similarities to the beginning of Giveon’s “The Beach” however, on this track, the pianos paced melody is consistently met with a cutting hi-hat. The looping instruments represent Luna’s volleying feelings and the sway back and forth described throughout the song. Heard in lyrics such as, “we can’t keep playing like this / I need to know/ are we more than just friends?”
Originally released as a single, “Why” is another standout track on the album. On this song, also produced by Larue Made It, you can hear the bold confidence in Luna’svocal performance. which instantly intrigued me. The dramatic piano’s abrupt pauses sync up impeccably as the chorus builds. “Why” has an energy that is sadly missing from other parts of the project.
L.O.V.E. is a solid freshman project with decent songs, but it isn’t a knock-out of the park. Luna still has a lot of growing to do as an artist if she wants to head to the front of the pack. For instance, the song “Too Deep” produced by JMS captures the essence of Bryson Tiller’s trap soul sound. is clean and crisp sonically, and the lyrics are unimaginative. By no means is this a bad track, “Too Deep” is just one of the songs that miss the creative youth freshness her contemporaries have incorporated into their music to make it pop. Whether it be a change of flow, the banter of a guest feature, or Luna pushing herself to showcase the full range of her voice, “Too Deep” is cookie-cutter. Maybe later in her career, she can rework this track to make it more than just another starter kit R&B song.
In an interview with Sidedoor Magazine, she discussed her plans for her first album. When asked about the visions for her first project, Luna replied, “I would like it to be more diverse – a couple of different styles of songs, but I do not have a specific direction for it.” The lack of defined direction for L.O.V.E. could explain the artistic holes that the project has.
The general mission of the EP was to create a relatable space for young and older women listeners filled with relating tales, but as she admits, she has not lived personally. Luna’s inability to connect with her intended message results in obvious growing pains and surface-level lyrics. The songs rooted in her own lived emotions trickled out were the best parts of this project. Keeping in mind that this project is simply a kickstart into her career, all in all, it is a decent R&B album. Despite the multiple lows, the highs truly shine through, and the signs that the Canadian singer can develop her sound further restore faith that there is still plenty of room to grow.
Loss Of Valuable Energy (L.O.V.E.) is available where music is streamed including Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. How did you feel about Luna Elle’s new project? Make sure to let us know in the comment section.
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