The first time I heard the voice of Dutch r&b/soul singer Alice Aera was when I discovered her track "Damage" a few months back. I found myself drawn to the way she instantly managed to pull me into her world and that high note she hit on the 17th second of the track. It has been a journey of exploration ever since and I'm happy to share with you her debut 8-track EP Between Spaces which came out last Friday via BSTL. Stream on all platforms here.
Inspired by both classic and contemporary sounds, Alice cites icons like Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder as major influences, alongside current stars like Jazmine Sullivan and H.E.R., painting a compelling and versatile sonic portrait.
Creating the EP has been a process with ups and downs, Alice shares via a few personal notes on Instagram, “…reflecting back on these last two years of creation with songwriting being my anchor of introspection I realize how much I’ve grown through the sometimes extremely painful process of falling and getting up again. Then fall harder, get up faster.” I can imagine how hard it is to create especially in times when the industry feels somewhat hopeless, but I surely am happy Alice persevered and didn't quit and granted us the gift that Between Spaces is.
The collection of songs, which has already amassed over 1 million plays, delves into the transitory and fleeting moments between clarity and confusion when one is in love. The journey of Between Spaces aims to tell the story of these in-between spaces via Alice's sultry voice. It swings between the intense passion of new romance to the serene moments of longing and introspection. Those moments where everything swings to the extreme, whether that's the warmth of love or the destructive feeling of insecurity.
The whole EP does feel like a story and I like that Alice used intro and interlude elements to piece her thoughts together. Created between Amsterdam and Toronto, the EP is a collaboration work with Grammy-winning producer Neenyo (who has previously worked with Beyoncé). Neenyo has masterfully set the stage for Alice's remarkable vocal talents and lyrics, which vividly convey the message in Between Spaces.
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The release also features a few notable collaborators including Khalil on "Emotionally Unavailable" and Majo on "You and I", which is the perfect ending to the story.
I imagine how carefully curated song titles were and just reading through them should tell you about the experience about to hit you after the play button. Listening to the EP as a whole, I couldn't help but feel sympathetic to the protagonist, which is the best proof of how moving and intimate the music is. My personal favorites are definitely "Damage" and "HARD", but I highly recommend diving deep into the world of Between Spaces. No skips.
8 tracks that will not only blow your mind but solidify Alice Aera's spot on the rising international r&b / soulful scene.
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