Emerging R&B songstress Sabrina Claudio sets foot upon the mainstream charts with her latest single ‘Rumors’ featuring former One Direction member Zayn Malik. Claudio’s smooth, silky vocals are strikingly complemented by Zayn’s soothing, profound melodies, both young artists bouncing off each other in spectacular fashion through and through.

The tune is a slow, sexy and thrilling; an element of intrigue is expressed through Claudio’s delicate but measured vocals, the lush percussive arrangement pulsating on, keeping the production steady but powerful. Claudio first began making a name for herself through her SoundCloud features, before compiling her most popular numbers into an independent album Confidently Lost. This song ‘Rumours’ is off her second studio album Truth Is, which was released on October 4, 2019, and if the singles are any indication, the listeners can expect the next queen of R&B to flourish before their very eyes. 

The track holds all the attributes of a classic R&B hit: a winning collaboration, a stylish, sensual and confident vocal performance, intricate production including some juicy beats off the drums and a fluctuating flow of the synth cutting through the sleek deliveries. Even Claudio’s deployment of electronic influences is purposeful; it does not overwhelm the elegance of the song but it elevates certain moments and renders them more dynamic. The themes are founded upon feelings of desire, lust, and togetherness; they would be quite controversial if Claudio were not keeping it classy, sophisticated and motivated. The music video similarly embodies a sense of power and glamour, the aesthetic of bright lights and crowded spaces amplifying those aching wonders of the soul. Zayn does not make an appearance on the music video, perhaps tellingly as Claudio is afforded the space and spotlight to assert her charisma. 

It is quite evident that her influences range from a wide swath of artists, both past and present. Speaking on the development of her latest album, she has said that she seeks inspiration from old-school R&B as well as jazz. Her creative process is also quite incredible, seeing how she is still so young. “It is just that I am a free spirit. When it comes to creation, I am open. However, I am extremely picky when it comes to who I create with. So, that is pretty much what it is.” she says. If her creativity churns out hits like this, then her fans are in safe hands. 

 R&B