Jae Stephens is a student of the R&B game with the vocal and songwriting chops to stand up to the genre’s finest. The Dallas native puts her talents on display with SELLOUT, her new EP, which blends influences from all eras into a shimmering and seductive six tracks. SELLOUT is available on all platforms via Raedio/Def Jam.
SELLOUT is a playful and energetic change of pace for R&B fans who wish their faves would be less dour and confessional and would just have more fun. Jae happily obliges, eschewing ballads in favor of songs designed to keep hips moving, packed with playful one-liners and buoyant hooks. Jae turned up the heat with singles like the glistening “WET,” recognized by Elle as one of the Best Songs of April 2024, a house-flavored banger equally suited for the club or the bedroom. Recent release “Body Favors” keeps the temperature elevated, harkening back to the Timbaland and Neptunes-era with a rubbery bassline and ping-ponging call-and-response vocals. The percolating “Girls Don’t Cheat,” co-written by Chxrry22 and covered by BET and Rated R&B, keeps that vibe going, slowing the tempo to allow for more intimate dancefloor encounters.
Beyond the singles, SELLOUT unveils three new highlights that spotlight Jae’s diverse talents. “Better Boy” is airy and syncopated, giving Jae the opportunity to layer immaculate harmonies about constructing the ideal man like a mad scientist. The breathy “Kiss U Back” is at once retro and modern, evoking SZA and Britney Spears in equal measure as it recalls an era where pop and R&B were two sides of the same coin. Closing track “PDA” ends the EP on a high note, riding a nasty bassline and Eastern-inspired instrumentation to explore the risqué joys of public lust. Her first new project since 2022’s High My Name Is, SELLOUT is available everywhere via Raedio/Def Jam.
“SELLOUT is me stepping into a light that I’ve wanted to dance in for a long time,” says Jae Stephens. “I had so much fun making this project and my hope is that everyone who listens will feel the same confident, carefree energy come through each song the same way I did while writing them!”
With SELLOUT, Jae Stephens delivers on her limitless potential, unlocking a new sound and establishing herself as one of R&B’s vital voices for 2024 and years to come.
© 2024, Seth “Digital Crates” Barmash. All rights reserved.
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