Generational talent…
H.E.R. (real name Gabriella Wilson) has been a constant force in the global R&B scene for a while now, ever since she first started making waves with H.E.R. Volume 1 and 2 way back in 2016 and 2017. As soon as she arrived, there was no dispute or doubt as to her talents and soul, the world quickly falling head over heals for her intimate blend of roots, R&B and soul that feels both nostalgic and traditional while forward-thinking and revolutionary.
Since then she’s continued to dominate the mainstream, scooping up Grammys, BETs, MTV VMAs and even Academy Awards, songs like ‘Best Part,’ ‘Fight For You’ and countless more resonating with fans all across the world, making an art of healing hearts. And it’s worth mentioning that she’s just a sick as hell musician as well, demonstrating skills across numerous instruments all the while being a weapon of a singer-songwriter.
Her latest album BACK OF MY MIND sees her continue all of the above and then some, her first studio album boasting 21 fierce tracks that touch upon R&B, trap, gospel and hip hop, showcasing that there’s no genre she won’t touch; that she can really do it all.
Opening the album with gospel hypnotism on ‘We Made It,’ you can almost hear H.E.R. revelling in her success in the music industry and in life. But she doesn’t consider it her success, with lyrics on the hook in ‘Lookin’ at the sky, like thank God that you’re with me/ You’re with me’ communicating that her triumphs are shared with her supporters.
The beat is musically complex as well, the five minute gem filled with a multitude of sounds, with everything from studio drums to crushing 808s and euphoric synths just carrying you into bliss. And you just know that H.E.R. had a hand in, if not completely did it all by herself, a true musicians musician.
A personal favourite, H.E.R. and Thundercat together on ‘Bloody Waters’ os the combination we never knew we needed, and now after listening to it, we’re crossing our fingers and toes for them to do a full album together. The track almost listens like an edgier, darker reincarnation of Marvin Gaye’s ‘There’s A Lot Going On,’ the 23-year-old virtuoso singing about social issues of racism and discrimination that continue to wreak havoc across America and the world.
The accompanying instrumentation is perfectly suited to the subject matter a well, the bustling beat and eery synth-flickers listening like an auditory moonlight charged with introspection and desperation. That bass line is bloody bumping as well, Thundercat doing his thing and getting you moving while not at all affecting your focus. Canadian producer wonder Kaytranada is also listed in the production credits of the track as well. H.E.R. really had the dream team on this bad boy, and it more than shows.
One of the lead singles on the record, ‘Hold On’ sees H.E.R. experiment with minimalism and groove in their finest forms, pushing the power of her vocal and songwriting ability to move the listener as they sit front and centre. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of other layers and pieces of instrumentation (special shoutout to that raging guitar solo toward the end of the track), but make no mistake, H.E.R.’s vocals are the true star of ‘Hold On,’ and they shine pretty bloody bright.
One of the last tracks on the album, ‘For Anyone’ is a quintessential ballad if we’ve ever heard one. It’s your classic tune about being left reeling after heartbreak, but injected with this gospel air that makes it feel totally spiritual in execution, gentle keys and guitar licks tenderly supporting H.E.R. as she confesses the extent of her hurt, so much so that her ‘Heart won’t open’ for anyone but the person that hurt her.
Needless to say, BACK OF MY MIND is a deep, almost boundless trove of emotion if we ever saw one. It’s a lush and complex body of work, and is only the type that comes after extensive introspection and practicing of one’s craft. Thus, to understand how we, or more specifically H.E.R. got to BACK OF MY MIND, we thought we’d take a little trip down memory lane to some of her greatest live performances (nailing it down was bloody tough) to see her growth through the years.
Check it below.
H.E.R. Tiny Desk
One of our favourite Tiny Desk’s in recent memory, H.E.R displayed the boundless musicianship that she burst onto the scene with all of those years ago on NPR’s performance series. Already electrifying the hallowed space with her appearance in Daniel Caesar’s Tiny Desk (that rendition of ‘Best Part’ was heavenly) it was only a matter of time before the queen herself rocked up for a special solo set. Alternating between guitar and that Rhodes keyboard with total ease, she essentially jammed out a total masterclass in R&B and soul. Not only that however, but the then 21-year-old (I feel so under-accomplished right now) really demonstrated that she’s in this for the long haul, that she’s gonna be around for decades to come.
H.E.R. – ‘Make It Rain’ At Black Girls Rock 2018
This is just in a totally different lane to all of the other performances in this list. H.E.R. literally makes it shower with soul and heart in this rendition of ‘Make It Rain’ for Black Girls Rock 2018. Vocally she’s bubbling with grit and power, her voice echoing with his momentous sense of importance, almost as if she’s performing a sermon for everyone watching. Her guitar playing sees her ditch the gentle plucks of strums of past performances, opting for some proper shredding as she engages in one of the most stank-inducing guitar solos. Her vocalising and scatting along with the guitar is insane as well, totally flexing her musical control as she captures the soul of the 60s and 70s trailblazers that are so heavily embedded in her style.
Jazmine Sullivan Ft. H.E.R. – ‘Girl Like Me’ on NPR’s Tiny Desk
Well what do you know, it’s another one of our favourite Tiny Desks! She isn’t the main artist in this performance, but there’s no denying that H.E.R.’s feature in ‘Girl Like Me’ is beautifully heartbreaking. Everything she does hits you in the damn gut man. Every guitar pluck, run, harmony and utterance is injected with this emotion that just floods off the screen and over the frequencies. And we gotta give H.E.R. her props, as holding one’s own against Jazmine Sullivan is bloody next to impossible, but of course, H.E.R. is no ordinary artist, and when she sings ‘I can’t do this good girl shit no more’ with that crazy run on ‘More,’ she completely reaffirms her rarity.
H.E.R. – ‘Best Part’ (1Xtra Session)
H.E.R. really doesn’t get enough credit for her acoustic performances, her rendition of ‘Best Part’ for BBC’s 1Xtra being a prime example of her being a bloody badass when holding an acoustic guitar. Sung totally acoustically by herself with the exception of some gentle keys and percussion, the soul starlet steals our hearts with a completely flawless rendition of the award-winning tune. It’s really nice just hearing her voice alone on that hook as well. Don’t get me wrong, Daniel Caesar is dope, but the purity she emanates on lyrics like ‘I just wanna see how/ beautiful you are’ is everything, truly.
H.E.R. At Sydney Opera House For Vivid Sydney
This one is a bit biased, but seeing H.E.R. bring her grace to the Sydney Opera House for Vivid was pretty damn breathtaking. It’s a weird seating arrangement in that part of the Opera House, but of course HER transcended it and then some, making you feel like you’re watching an exclusive show in some hidden bar where you’re so close you can literally touch the artist. Her rendition of ‘Focus’ is gorgeous as well, totally in control from both a vocal and performative sense, spreading her wings as a true legend in the making.
