Nao
Nao Courtesy of the artist

Nao is in the 23rd century, in terms of what her vision for R&B looks and sounds like. The London singer’s music takes its cues from electro, funk, and soul, fusing them all together and pitting her distinctive falsetto over it to create sounds that she terms “wonky funk.” She’s worked with everyone from Mura Masa to the so-elusive-that-I’m-not-even-sure-they-are-real—but genre-vital—Paul Brothers, forging a new global R&B soundscape that’s sensual but also club danceable. Xavier Omär joins her on tour with his quasi sad boy, soulful crooner music serving as a good weight against Nao’s often frenetic and vanguard-advancing tunes.

The tour lands at the Showbox this Sunday. Some media by both below.

"So Good" was the first song I ever heard Nao on—it sounded like nothing else I'd ever heard before, but was somehow exactly what I wanted to listen to. Here she teamed up with A.K. Paul, brother to mysterious Jai Paul. Both artists share the same sensibility when it comes to R&B: explode it and put it back together in a better, more interesting way.

Here's Nao in real time showing us the complete mastery of her voice on "Bad Blood."

Finally, here is a single off her latest album, Saturn, called "Make It Out Alive."

Xavier Omär is an artist on the come up. There were a few weeks in March or April where I had this song on repeat. The lyrics kinda don't make sense, but overall, it's a slinky, sexy tune.

"No Way Out" unites Omär and rapper GoldLink.