Hypnotic and Honest, Amaria Is Florida's Most Promising R&B Star
R&B is a notoriously difficult genre to break into, as its underground scene is practically bursting at the seams with talented young artists. It is rare that an up-and-coming artist is able to rise among the chaos and showcase a unique style and innate talent that allows them to stand out from their peers. Luckily, Amaria is just that.
The Tampa, Florida - based artist has been turning heads with her dreamy soul sound for the past year, even catching the attention of Soulection and Lyrical Lemonade in the process. Synthesizing the best elements of funk, R&B, and ambient music with her own signature twist, Amaria is an artist that needs to be on your radar in 2021.
If this is your first introduction to Amaria's music, then her late single, "Got Me Like," is the perfect launching point. Slow, sensual, and seductive, "Got Me Like" has all the trappings of a modern R&B banger. This is Amaria's signature style, injecting every moment of her carefully crafted tracks with a vibe that is equally hypnotic and ethereal. As if that wasn't enough, "Got Me Like" sports a surprise appearance from Mick Jenkins.
So what now? You're hooked and you want more. Thankfully, Amaria has spent the past two years dropping seductive single after single. Another one of her 2021 singles, "Think About It," pairs Amaria's delicate and melodic vocals with a bedroom pop mix and a hip-hop bounce. The result is sensational, and fans of this more rhythmic style will find more to love within Amaria's discography. Then there's "Roses." It's a bit slower but makes up for it with an absolutely insane bassline that sounds like it was pulled straight from a P-Funk/Bootsy Collins deep cut. Like the previously mentioned tracks, it still sounds like a daydream set to music, and these are only the tracks she's dropped this year.
Though still relatively up-and-coming, Amaria saw her fair share of success last year. Tracks like "Morning" and "Twilight" both gained impressive traction online. The former sounds like the Tampa singer is singing to you from above the clouds, and the latter sounds like Amaria is right next to you driving down the highway at sunset. Though they have their fair share of differences, both of these tracks sound forward-thinking and nostalgic, providing listeners with a refreshing take on the sounds and styles that have dominated R&B in recent years. Plus, the vocal layers that decorate the second half of "Twilight" are not to be missed, especially if you've just become an instant fan of Amaria's.
With more music and visuals likely coming down the pipeline this year, Amaria is quickly pushing herself into the R&B stratosphere. With velvety-smooth vocals, an incredible talent for songwriting, and a signature style that many of her peers will likely try to emulate, few R&B artists have me as excited for the future as Amaria.
