Yuna - Chapters (2016)

The indie darling transitions to R&B with spectacular results on Chapters. Early in her career, the Malaysian singer/songwriter made a splash with diary-like songs about identity and growth. This album finds her locked in an R&B groove, with guests like Usher (“Crush”) and Jhené Aiko (“Used to Love You”). Yuna's warm voice is a comforting vessel on slow jams like “Mannequin” and “Lanes.” It’s been a minute since Malaysian artist Yuna has released an album stateside. For fans still living off of the ephemeral high of her previous LP, the underrated 2013 gem Nocturnal, you’d recall that the onetime aspiring lawyer cut her teeth on a particular space and sound in music: an eclectic mix of indie pop and folk tunes that came off as a mixture of Sia and Coldplay wrapped in one pop package. But in February, Yuna reemerged with “Places To Go”, a DJ Premier-produced banger with an overt hip-hop bent. It was a radical departure from the singer’s breezier pop offerings. Her follow-up single, the Usher-assisted single “Crush,” saw the singer dabble in quiet storm. As if linking up with R&B’s king of the sexy slow jam wasn’t enough, the single served as confirmation that her upcoming album might serve as her coronation into the R&B game. And so on Chapters (out May 20), Yuna firmly dips her toe into the pool of contemporary R&B. And the water is pretty spectacular.

Tracklist:

01. Mannequin 3:35
02. Lanes 3:14
03. Crush (Feat. Usher) 4:03
04. Unrequited Love 4:09
05. Best Love 4:50
06. Used To Love You (Feat. Jhene Aiko) 3:29
07. Too Close 4:13
08. Best Of Me 3:53
09. Your Love 4:38
10. All I Do 3:34