Harleighblu is Stuntin’. Demonstrating why she’s been dubbed the “New Queen of Hip Hop Soul”, she returns with a song that’s the anthemic summer vibes we all need. It’s been two years since the success of her debut album, She, a collaborative effort with German hip hop producer Bluestaeb, which saw Harleighblu sing empowering lyrics to womanhood over soulful, boombap inspired instrumentation. She received almost 3 million streams and 1,500 vinyl sales, graced stages at Glastonbury, Bestival, the Giles Peterson Worldwide festival, Lollapalooza and more.
Captivating and unique…Harleighblu is the woman who has really made me sit up and take notice
– Craig Charles (BBC6)
As she gears up for the release of a new EP, CROWN, Harleighblu returns to the scene with Stuntin’. Excitingly, Stuntin’ showcases the evolution the past year has enabled Harleigh to make to her sound. Retaining her desire to inspire and empower, but expressed in more real and raw terms, on the single and the EP, Harleigh unfolds even further. Sonically, she also evolves. On Stuntin’ she showcases new versatility in her vocals, favouring smoother, higher ranges alongside her signature raspy lower register. It makes for a deliciously sweet and dynamic balance.
We loved catching up with Harleighblu about her single and upcoming project, the lessons the pandemic taught her and the evolution of her sound. Get into our conversation below.
Stuntin’ is now available on all platforms. Listen to the incredibly vibey single above and watch the visualiser above.
A glow up song. A ‘Mood’ song. A song that says No ‘f’s’ given! A ‘my situationship will not define me’ song! Something to uplift women
– Harleighblu
On the lessons of the past year and how it’s influenced her music…
This past year has been crazy… but it has taught me that life is for living! I seemingly lost everything, like so many musicians… but in that time I chose to refocus my energy and try as hard as I could to make the best out of the situation. After depression, I got back into fitness in a big way, I lost 3 stone, got my mental health back and also left a toxic job. This life blip has taught me to go for what I really want in life… to make the music I want, to say what I need to say!
On the story behind Stuntin‘…
Stuntin‘ was written in Nashville, USA with songwriter Jacob Simpson and producer Silvastone. I was in America, living my best life, writing, recording, doing something I have always wanted to do. I wanted to write an empowering, fun, feel good song. A song that basically captured how I felt… A glow up song. A ‘Mood’ song. A song that says No ‘f’s’ given! A ‘my situationship will not define me’ song! Something to uplift women. As soon we entered the studio we starting writing and it was like the song wrote itself. We captured the moment!
CROWN… is my proudest work yet I would say! I feel like I have developed my sound, taken risks and am also talking more of the reals
– Harleighblu
She was such a powerfully empowering project and ode to womanhood. What can listeners expect from CROWN?
Thank you so much! I am still very proud of “She” and I also never got to tour it so, hopefully I can still play some of it out live soon.I was very frank, open and honest on that album and I have carried that tradition on with this new project… CROWN was written partly in Los Angeles / Nashville and partly in London, UK. It is my proudest work yet I would say! I feel like I have developed my sound, taken risks and am also talking more of the reals haha…This new project’s main aim is to empower you, make you think and hopefully make you feel good!
On the evolution of her sound and American influences for the sound on Stuntin’ and CROWN…
I knew I would make my next project in America and thats exactly what happened… I’ve always had so much love for the place musically, all my idols are from there, so I knew I needed to go over there and make some music! I chose Nashville and Los Angeles… Nashville is famous for its songwriting and the LA sound is just insane! I also have fans in America and it’s my top streaming country in the world. So, it felt right to go there. I always like to speak my truth in my music and I feel I have done with this new record…
What you can expect from Harleigh in the next few months…
Expect dope sounds, insane visuals, and words that make you think and make you feel!
The upcoming project, CROWN, in 3 words…
Brand New Energy!
Listen to Stuntin‘ by Harleighbu now on all streaming platforms and follow her on Instagram.
