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Photo: Chase Denton

If you're anxiously trying to craft the perfect winter playlist for spending a saccharine fireside moment with your significant other, then you're in luck. Just in time for the tailend of cuffing season, Nashville-via-Greenville artist Isaia Huron returns with Cerulean Tapes, his second EP of 2021. Following the success of his previous project Bound, the alt-R&B artist circles back to go two-for-two with his latest offering.  

On Cerulean Tapes, our hero interpolates tracks from artists ranging from Aaliyah to Drake, turning their composition, production, and arranging upside-down to craft his own minimalistic and tender takes on four classic songs.  Now, you may have read the phrase 'classic songs' and instinctively thought 'oh, that means Miguel's "Adorn" has to be included.' You would be right of course, as Huron includes "Adorn - Version 4" alongside minimalistic reimaginings of   Drake's "Teenage Fever," Aaliyah's "One In A Million," and even Floetry's "Say Yes."  

All four reimaginings feature their own seductively intimate takes on their respective R&B hit, from the thundering bass signals decorating "Say Yes" to the airy and ethereal vocal layers on Huron's remix of "One In A Million" and "Teenage Fever." "Adorn - Version 4" is easily the standout track, however, as the artist's punchy electronic drums and seasoned vocals evoke comparisons to an early Marvin Gaye armed with a TR-808 creating the 1982 classic Midnight Love. Cerulean Tapes exists as the perfect opportunity to become an early fan of one of R&B's most promising rising stars.

Listen to  Cerulean Tapes below: